Farm Safety Certification Program: Building Capacity and Recognition for Extension Educators in Agricultural Safety

Commodities

• Agronomic: corn, hay, potatoes, soybeans, other
• Vegetables: garlic, onions, sweet corn, tomatoes
• Additional Plants: cut flowers
• Animals: bovine, equine, poultry, sheep, swine
• Animal Products: dairy, eggs, meat

Practices

• Education and Training: extension, focus group, mentoring, networking, technical assistance, workshop, youth education
• Farm Business Management: labor/employment, risk management
• Pest Management: disease vectors, prevention, sanitation, other
• Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, local and regional food systems, public policy, quality of life, social capital, sustainability measures, urban agriculture, urban/rural integration

This project will develop, implement, and evaluate a national agricultural safety credentialing program for Extension educators to enhance the consistency and quality of agricultural safety education nationwide. The initiative will build educator capacity to deliver research-based, competency-driven safety training across six major agricultural domains: field crops, dairy, swine, beef, poultry, and urban/specialty crop production.

Activity 1 focuses on curriculum development and module design, adapting existing evidence-based materials into six interactive online modules. Each will include case studies, videos, and scenario-based exercises addressing key competencies such as machinery safety, livestock handling, PPE use, and emergency preparedness. Modules will undergo expert peer review and be hosted on the eXtension platform for national access.

Activity 2 will establish a credentialing and digital badging system, awarding verified badges and certificates for completed modules. This framework will motivate participation, provide professional recognition, and elevate Extension's visibility in agricultural safety.

Activity 3 promotes the program through national and state conferences, social media, and newsletters. Dr. Yoder and Ms. Duysen will host exhibits and engage with educators to increase awareness and participation.

Activity 4 ensures program evaluation and continuous improvement through pre/post assessments, surveys, and annual reviews to measure knowledge gains, behavior change, and long-term adoption of safety programming.

Together, these coordinated activities will produce a sustainable, evidence-based professional development system that improves educator competency, institutional integration of safety content, and ultimately, the well-being of agricultural communities.

This project will produce tangible and measurable outputs that strengthen the national capacity of Extension educators to deliver agricultural safety education. The outputs include the development of educational materials and credentialing systems, engagement of educators through training and promotional activities, and the establishment of partnerships to ensure the program's long-term reach and sustainability.

Educational Products and Curriculum Development. The primary output will be the creation of six interactive, competency-based online training modules designed to build standardized safety competencies across key agricultural sectors: field crops, dairy, swine, beef, poultry, and urban/specialty crop production.

Expected Outputs:

• Six completed safety training modules.
• Six sets of instructor guides, downloadable teaching resources, and evaluation rubrics.
• Testing and assessment tools for each module.
• Online course platform hosted through eXtension for national access and sustainability.

Participation Targets:
A minimum of 200 Extension educators from the North Central region will participate in beta testing and pilot implementation of the modules during the first two years. By Year 3, the project anticipates reaching 600 educators nationally, with at least 300 completing one or more credentialing modules.

Credentialing Framework and Digital Badging System. A verified digital badging and certificate system will be developed and integrated into the eXtension platform to recognize educators' learning achievements. Each module completed will earn a digital badge and printable certificate, with badges stackable toward a full "Agricultural Safety Credential."

Expected Outputs:

• Digital credentialing and verification system.
• Tiered certification structure with defined competencies.
• A minimum of 300 badges and certificates issued by the end of Year 3.

Digital badges and certificates will serve as a visible marker of safety expertise, encouraging participation, peer recognition, and institutional support for safety education integration within Extension programs.

Promotion and Dissemination. To ensure broad awareness and adoption, the project team will conduct a coordinated promotion and outreach campaign through conferences, social media, newsletters, and professional networks.

Expected Outputs:

• Nine in-person promotion events (three national and six regional).
• Minimum of 1,000 Extension professionals reached through conference exhibits.
• Minimum of 10 social media campaigns and four newsletter features annually.

These dissemination activities will increase visibility, strengthen professional networks, and drive participation in the credentialing program.

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement. A comprehensive evaluation framework will be developed to assess participant learning outcomes, program adoption, and long-term impact.

Expected Outputs:

• Annual evaluation reports summarizing learning outcomes and recommendations.
• Program dashboard tracking participation and credential completion.
• Continuous updates and expansion of materials based on new data.

Participation Targets:
At least 150 educators will complete evaluations annually, providing data on program usability, satisfaction, and impact.

Partnerships and Collaboration. Project outputs will be strengthened through collaboration with national partners including USDA-NIFA, State Extension programs, NIOSH Agricultural Safety and Health Centers, eXtension, and land-grant universities.

Expected Outputs:

• Formal collaboration with at least 20 partners by Year 3.
• Shared access to educational resources through the eXtension network.
• Established framework for sustaining the credentialing system beyond the grant period.