Risk Management for Ag Families: Evaluation of an Integrated Educational Program for Producers on the Northern Plains

This article analyzes the impact of a series of educational programs focusing on risk management for agricultural families structured as a series of short educational sessions coupled with hands-on learning activities. Responses of program participants to pre- and post-workshop questionnaires, series questionnaires, and a follow-up mail survey are analyzed using non-parametric statistics. Results indicate that this integrated format, focusing on areas of risk affecting agricultural family businesses, had a positive impact on knowledge levels and behavior. Overall, these results suggest this type of educational format may have merit as compared to more didactic approaches for delivering risk management education.