A Mixed Methods Study of On-Farm Apprenticeship Learning in Virginia
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A Mixed Methods Study of On-Farm Apprenticeship Learning in Virginia Lorien Eleanora MacAuley Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in LIFE SCIENCES In Agricultural and Extension Education Kim L. Niewolny Susan G. Magliaro Rick D. Rudd August 26, 2014 Blacksburg, Virginia Keywords: Beginning Farmer, Apprenticeship, Internship, Experiential Learning, Situated Learning A Mixed Methods Study of On-Farm Apprenticeship Learning in Virginia Lorien Eleanora MacAuley ABSTRACT The average age of principal farm operators rose from 50.3 years in 1978, to 57.1 years in 2007, as farmers retire and new farmers do not enter farming (NASS, 2013).With declining numbers of entrants into farming, agricultural educators and service providers must better understand strategies for effectively preparing beginning farmers. On-farm apprenticeships in the U.S. show promise as a means to prepare farmers and are increasing in number (Niewolny & Lillard, 2010). Lave (1988) writes “knowledge-in-practice, constituted in the settings of practice, is the locus of the most powerful knowledgeability of people in the lived-in world” (p. 14). Thus, farming, as a complex set of interwoven skills, is best learned in situ, as situated learning. On- farm apprenticeships therefore may allow learners to construct knowledge in context, and build identities as farmers. In this thesis, I share findings from a mixed methods study that explored what kinds of on-farm apprenticeships are available, and to whom; and important educational practices, structures, and institutions that support on-farm apprenticeship learning. This study comprises data from a survey (N=45) of Virginia farmers who host apprentices, and interviews (N=12) with farmers and on-farm apprentices. Findings describe who undertakes on-farm apprenticeships, and suggest that apprentices develop expert identities through situated learning with farmers. Findings describe how farmers participate as educators, and how farms function as sites of situated learning. This study also found that on-farm apprenticeships are embedded within alternative food movements, with social reproduction potentially occurring. I also explore broader implications for preparing beginning farmers. DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis document to my husband and muse, David T. Hewett, for his immense, incredible, unflinching, and humbling support, through my struggle, renewal, and newfound inspiration in life. This would not have been possible without your love. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you, first and foremost, to my mother, Susan MacAuley, who always encouraged her daughters to be creative, resourceful, and independent. Thanks to my father, who through his ceaseless zest for life, instilled in us a love of learning. By always following his own moral compass, he taught us to maintain an open mind, passionately following conviction, even when seemingly impossible, unpopular, or against the norm. Dad, thanks for raising daughters as stubbornly idealistic as you are. Thanks to Lacy MacAuley, Sparklestar, for always reminding me to never give up, always stand strong though the storm rages, maintain crystal vision of the star on the horizon. Thanks to Katharine Lavery, for believing in me when no one else did; without your support, I would never have thought I was “college material.” Thanks to Ursula McAuley, who showed by example that it’s OK to follow a nontraditional path, and to do so with grace and style. Thanks to Christian MacAuley and Jim Safley, for sharing in hedonistic pursuits that keep our lives sparking. Thanks to Sheridan MacAuley, Eric Lerch, Max and Beck, for many laughs and support, and realistic advice. Thanks to Ms. Curley, who proves that one great high school teacher can make all the difference. Thanks to Scott Fanello, whose unstoppable force of earth-moving lifeworks taught me much more than I realized, and pushed me farther than I would have thought I was capable; showers of crazy intense thanks for absolutely everything. I also give many thanks to Elizabeth Morris, Gina Lofaro, Heather Borra O’Donnell, and Enrique Peralta, for joy beyond counting, for accompanying me in always dancing to the tune of your own music. In that vein, thanks to Amalthea, Schmendrick, Leia, Indy, and Geddy, Alex, and Neil, for the eternal inspiration and the consistent reminder to be true to oneself, and always walk the knife’s edge of righteousness. iv Thanks to Chris Chisholm, whose vision, enthusiasm, and inspired leadership allowed me experience a life renaissance, while training me in a great many useful skills, including becoming my own type of educator. Thanks to Lesa Gilbert, Jene Williams, Savanna Lyons, and Artie Mullins, whose patience and support allowed me to learn many of life’s lessons about community education with underserved communities, community garden programming, and working within civic agriculture. As for Dr. Kim Niewolny, words cannot express my gratitude for the understanding, the many enlightening conversations, the many acts of encouragement. Your patience, wisdom, and confidence in me have been of essential value to this project, and to my development as a scholar, and I am in deepest gratitude. May many successful ventures yet lie ahead! I also want to deeply thank Dr. Susan Magliaro, whose passion for sociocultural learning is contagious, and whose guidance led to a much deeper understanding of theories of pedagogy. Many thanks to Dr. Rick Rudd, whose leadership, encouragement, and darn good advice has been utterly indispensable. I also would like to thank the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), for working to distribute the on-farm apprenticeship survey, and working to allow dissemination for the results of this study. Also, I would like to thank the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project, the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, and the Virginia Biological Farming Association for their help in recruiting participants for this study. I deeply and humbly thank the anonymous participants in this study, who shared with me information about their farms, their apprenticeship programs, and themselves. More than that, many shared with me their opinions, aspirations, impressions, and feelings about their lived experiences, and for that, I am immensely grateful. v Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow graduate students, who all, at some point or another, offered me helpful insights, encouragement, advice regarding academics, this thesis, and life. Thanks to Bijiek Jieknyal, Blake Krippendorf, Rebecca Landis, Amy Vu, Sarah Halvorson- Fried, Rachael Kennedy, Garland Mason, Jenn Helms, Brad Burbaugh, Althea Whittier- Cummings, Tinesha Woods-Wells, Phil D’Adamo Damery, Courtney Vengrin, Havva Savran Al-Haik, Matt Ayres, William Magnon, Antonio Silas, Jessica Tussing, Karissa Grier, Felicia Reese. Special thanks to Michelle Greaud for the patience and support! And of course, thank you for the laughs! vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement .................................................................................................................................... 4 Research Purpose and Questions .............................................................................................................. 6 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................................. 7 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................................................ 10 Clarification of Terminology .................................................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................... 19 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Socio-Historical Context for Study ........................................................................................................