Completed Project Report


Improving Hiring Practices and Retention of the Horse Industry Labor Force through Traditional and Online Employer Training Programs

  • Award Amount: $33,757
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2012 Unrestricted Grants
  • Project Director: Christine Skelly
  • Email: skellych@msu.edu
  • Organization: Michigan State University

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Project Overview

Investigators from four North Central universities developed five online equine business short courses to be housed on eXtension.org/horses. Each course contains a webinar, interactive quiz, decision tool, articles and relevant links. An interactive learning module was developed by New Mexico Learning Center to illustrate worker safety issues on horse operations. The courses focused on human resource, liability and farm safety issues. Collaborators from the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Iowa State University, presented topics regarding immigration, youth and contract/employee labor law and liability issues of equine veterinary practices. Karen Waite, Michigan State University, presented a webinar on worker safety. Evaluations were conducted at the completion and three months and 1 year post-completion of each course to determine participants’ adaptation of best hiring and safety practices. The Equine Business Network, through social media like Facebook, Twitter, and HorseBiz Bog delivered educational and government resources and networking opportunities to equine businesses. In addition, related equine business articles and webcasts are available on eXtension.org/horses and My Horse University.

Number of Participants: 434

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

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