Chapter 8: Wrapping Up

Recognize the Sponsors, Speakers, and Workers

Farm safety workshops depend upon the support and assistance of many people and organizations. After the workshop, remember to recognize and thank those individuals and groups for the support they provided .

"Thank You" Notes

The most effective way to recognize and express appreciation to those individuals or organizations who assisted with a program is to send them a "Thank You" note. Send notes as soon after the workshop as possible. Include everyone who assisted with the program, such as members of the organizing committee, sponsors, or speakers. A simple, personal handwritten message will often have more meaning to the receiver than a formal letter, particularly a "form letter," typed on fancy stationery. Personal thank-yous sent by program participants are another excellent means of showing appreciation to workshop sponsors .

Media Announcements

Publicly recognizing sponsors and helpers is often appropriate, particularly if your workshop is sponsored by local businesses. Submitting a short thank-you note that lists the program contributors in the local newspaper is an excellent method of providing this public recognition. Businesses or organizations will generally be more willing to assist with future service-oriented projects if they receive positive public exposure for their contributions.

Evaluations

Importance

Evaluations offer a means of measuring the success of a farm safety workshop. Participants completing an evaluation at the conclusion of a program can express what they liked or disliked about the program, and offer suggestions and ideas for future events.

In a limited sense, evaluations can also provide an indication of the impact of the workshop. If designed properly, an evaluation may provide information about participants' attitudes, or their intentions to make improvements or change safety practices. It should be noted that changes in attitude, and particularly changes in actual behaviors, are difficult to measure. It is recommended that you consult with a safety education specialist or county Extension educator when developing an evaluation for this purpose.

Preparing the Evaluation Form

The most effective evaluations are those that are easy for the participants to complete. An evaluation form that allows individuals to grade or rank each segment of the workshop on a simple scale should provide enough feedback to indicate which portions of the program were most successful. Always invite participants to offer suggestions for improving future workshops.  A sample evaluation form is included.

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Measuring Knowledge Gained

Another important component of program evaluation is to measure knowledge gained. This can be estimated by administering a very simple pre-test of ten questions at the beginning of the program and then re-administering the same test at the completion of the program. Participants do not need to identify themselves on either test which should help reduce their reluctance in taking the exam. The questions selected should directly relate to the topics that will be covered. The following are three example questions written in a True or False format.

1. True   False   The leading cause of fatalities on farms is tractor upsets.
2. True   False   The most important first aid step in the event of eye exposure to anhydrous ammonia is to flush with water.
3. True   False   A child partially engulfed in a load of grain can be removed by pulling on his arms.

By comparing the average scores on the pre-tests with those found on the post-tests, provides a measure of knowledge gained. If the pre-test scores are high, you may want to assess the content to ensure that participants are being provided relevant information. Low scores on the post-tests suggests that topics were not adequately addressed.