About

Gary Briers is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at Texas A&M University. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University. His academic and professional background is rooted in agricultural education, with a focus on leadership, communication, and development within the agricultural sector. As a member of Texas A&M AgriLife, he is involved in extension and research activities related to agricultural leadership and education, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practices in these fields.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Computer Science
• Geography
• Psychology
• Medicine
• Sociology
• Business
• Social psychology
• Knowledge management
• Economic growth
• Demography
• Marketing
• Medical education
• Socioeconomics
• Economics
• Public relations
• Pedagogy

Selected publications

• Beef cattle industry stakeholder understanding of structural soundness: Opportunities for education

  Translational Animal Science · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Structural soundness in beef cattle is a key component of animal merit that impacts livestock well-being and profitability. A survey instrument was developed by consulting extension manuals, breed association materials, and a panel of experts. Pilot testing ensured validity. Data collection occurred from August 2024 through January 2025, resulting in 466 unique survey responses across 36 states. The average knowledge test score was 69.65%. Respondents were split 59.01% male (n = 275) and 39.91% female (n = 186), with females demonstrating a significantly higher technical knowledge score (P < 0.01). Individuals ranging from 18 years to 75 + with varied tenure and industry background completed the instrument. Those with greater years of experience scored higher on the knowledge test (P < 0.01). Of respondents identifying as cow-calf producers, those involved in seedstock production scored higher than commercial cow-calf producers (P < 0.01). On average, participants were accurate in identifying front leg, hoof, and pastern defects, whereas questions on hindleg and overall skeletal correctness produced varied responses. Participants estimated their own knowledge of structural correctness on a 0–10 Likert scale. The average self-assigned score was 6.98 (SD = 1.83). A high percentage (67.80%) ranked structural soundness of foremost importance relative to other selection factors; those who ranked it foremost scored higher on the knowledge test (P < 0.01). Still, 84.44% make culling decisions based on structure. In a free-response question, respondents shared their perceptions of the most common causes of cattle soundness issues. The most prevalent responses were genetics (39.54%), structural issues not culled against (24.49%), and industry selection pressures, such as show ring demands and expected progeny differences (EPDs) (11.59%). When asked about the need for further education, 84.55% agreed that a need exists. Results provide evidence that participants find this topic relevant and applicable to their role in the beef cattle industry. These findings identify a gap in beef production stakeholders’ knowledge. Efforts by educational organizations, including beef breed associations and extension programs, should focus on disseminating information on this topic.

  PublisherDOI

• Comparing Influence and Value Based on Study Abroad Program Types

  Frontiers The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad · 2024-04-16 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Providing students opportunities to travel outside their home country to engage new cultures and perspectives increases global awareness and desirable workplace skills. Students are most influenced to go abroad by cost, course(s), length, and destination, and by family, peers, and advisors. This study examined data from 1,807 students at a U.S. university who participated in faculty-led, exchange, or provider programs over three years. We described students’ personal characteristics, influences on going abroad, value derived, and perceptions of safety. Statistically significant relationships between program type and participant characteristics were found. Principal influencers on students’ pursuit of global experiences included the study abroad website, faculty members, and former student participants. Their perceived value of study abroad was high. Participants believed their experience was a good investment and would recommend it to others. These results may assist education abroad professionals in their engagement with various student populations to encourage and enable global experiences. Abstract in Spanish Brindar a los estudiantes oportunidades para viajar fuera de su país de origen para involucrarse en nuevas culturas y perspectivas aumenta la conciencia global y las habilidades laborales deseables. Los estudiantes se ven más influenciados para viajar al extranjero por el costo, los cursos, la duración y el destino, así como por la familia, los compañeros y los asesores. Este estudio examinó datos de 1.807 estudiantes de una universidad de los Estados Unidos que participaron en programas dirigidos por profesores, de intercambio o de proveedores durante tres años. Describimos las características personales de los estudiantes, sus influencias al viajar al extranjero, los valores derivados y las percepciones de seguridad. Se encontraron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el tipo de programa y las características de los participantes. Los principales influyentes en la búsqueda de experiencias globales por parte de los estudiantes incluyeron el sitio web de estudios en el extranjero, miembros del cuerpo docente y ex estudiantes participantes. El valor percibido de estudiar en el extranjero era alto. Los participantes creyeron que su experiencia fue una buena inversión y la recomendarían a otros. Estos resultados pueden ayudar a los profesionales de la educación en el extranjero en su compromiso con diversas poblaciones estudiantiles para fomentar y permitir experiencias globales.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Factors predicting innovation-decisions: The effects of performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions on U.S. Extension’s promotion of precision agriculture technologies

  NJAS Impact in Agricultural and Life Sciences · 2024-10-28 · 12 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Youth Leadership Development in the 4-H Foods and Nutrition Program

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Youth leadership development in the 4-H Foods and Nutrition program

  Children and Youth Services Review · 2024-09-30

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Great Yorkshire Livestock Show Attendees’ Attitudes about Agriculture

  Journal of Applied Communications · 2023-06-22

  articleOpen access

  The purpose of our research was to determine if attending a U.K. livestock show changed attendees’ attitudes about agriculture and to compare those changes in attitudes to attendees of a U.S. state fair similar in size and dynamic. The sample was livestock show attendees at the Great Yorkshire Show (GYS). The mixed-method design included a then and now semantic differential scale with bipolar adjective pairs to measure attendees’ attitudes about agriculture before and after the experience and qualitative interviews with photo elicitation to learn about how attendees developed attitudes about agriculture. Participants had positive attitudes about agriculture before they attended the Show and had more positive attitudes after attending. Participants had more positive attitudes before and after attending the Show than did California State Fair attendees. In addition, participants lacked prior experiences with agriculture, but attending the GYS provided them the opportunity to develop positive attitudes through cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Fair attendance should be promoted because they provide unique opportunities for experiential learning and U.S. fairs should adopt experiential tactics used at the GYS. Further research is needed to better understand how GYS attendees developed positive attitudes about agriculture prior to attending the Show and what elements of the GYS experience were most influential to attendees’ attitude development.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Correlational Study of Two U.S. State Extension Professionals’ Behavioral Intentions to Improve Sustainable Food Chains through Precision Farming Practices

  Foods · 2023 · 21 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Political Science
  • Business

  = 102) agricultural extension professionals were surveyed. The results indicated that performance expectancy and social influence were individually significant predictors of extension professional behavioral intentions to promote precision farming technologies. There were no significant differences between the professionals of two extension systems. Gender, age, and years of service did not affect extension professionals' intention to promote precision agriculture technologies. The data suggested the need for training programs to develop advanced competencies to promote agricultural innovation. This study contributes to the future professional development programs for extension professionals on communicating innovations to address food security and sustainability issues.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Food security and agricultural challenges in West-African rural communities: a machine learning analysis

  International Journal of Food Properties · 2022 · 27 citations

  • Business
  • Geography
  • Economic growth

  This article investigated household-level food security for Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal. Different agroclimatic, ecological, social, and farming conditions in West Africa were represented. Using data-driven Random Forest and Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) decision tree methodology, this study classified 644 Ghanaian, 323 Liberian, and 510 Senegalese households for comparison and interpretation on food security. The predictors growing Liberian and Senegalese decision trees imply community support, diverse selling channels outside villages, resolving the dispute over farmland, and increasing community-level investment for food availability and access demonstrate household food security. Predictor importance on food security for Ghana highlighted the role of independent producers and food suppliers toward stability. Household food security or insecurity was distinguished by location-specific and gender-led households in Liberia and Senegal. Practically, the results presented a need to step-up agricultural education and extension based on an empirical field survey and its interpretations. The results can add considerations to the role of farming households as independent and individual suppliers and consumers to long-standing dimensions of food security, i.e., food availability, access, and stability.

  PublisherDOI

• Agricultural Educators’ Adoption of Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL): Effects of Beliefs

  Journal of Agricultural Education · 2022-12-30 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Agricultural education is responsible for preparing future generations to advance agriculture in a rapidly changing world. How can agricultural education best prepare students to be innovative problem-solvers who can keep up with these changes? Perhaps educators can create learning experiences that allow students to uncover material through their own questioning and experimentation using inquiry-based learning (IBL). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects personal agricultural educators’ beliefs about agricultural education, self-efficacy, and context have on adopting IBL. Agricultural educators’ adoption of IBL was significantly affected by degree obtained and the agricultural pathway in which they taught. A positive relationship was demonstrated between both IBL adoption and the orientation to teach substantive and procedural knowledge, with the higher correlation between procedural knowledge and the adoption of IBL. A positive relationship existed between agricultural educators’ perceived ability to implement IBL and the perceived abilities of their students to complete IBL activities. More than 26 percent of the variance in the adoption of IBL among agricultural educators was explained by variables in the structural equation model of this study. Adoption of IBL by agricultural educators needs further research. However, this study indicates beliefs about education, self, and context do affect the adoption of IBL by agricultural educators. Agricultural educators with higher self-efficacy in creating IBL lessons and greater orientation toward teaching procedural knowledge are more likely to adopt IBL in their classrooms. Programming should be developed that impacts beliefs in a way to encourage adoption of IBL.

  PublisherDOI

• Radio Communications on Family Planning: Case of West Africa

  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2022 · 9 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Sociology
  • Political Science

  Sub-Saharan Africa will accommodate more population this century by having a multitude of births across the continent. Family planning methods provide women with techniques to manage their health and wellbeing. This study investigated how radio communications in family planning changed the perception of Ghanaian, Liberian, and Senegalese mothers toward having fewer children. Univariate and multivariate linear regression results after coarsened exact matching (CEM) with selected covariates for 15- to 49-year-old mothers from demographic and health survey (DHS) data implied the effectiveness of radio communications. This effort supports the need for further research on tailored communication methods for West African mothers over time.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Michael C. Edwards

  Vector (United States)

  15 shared

• Julie F. Harlin

  Mitchell Institute

  14 shared

• T. Grady Roberts

  University of Florida

  12 shared

• Glen C. Shinn

  Texas A&M University

  12 shared

• James R. Lindner

  Auburn University

  11 shared

• Theresa Pesl Murphrey

  Texas A&M University

  10 shared

• John Rayfield

  Texas Tech University

  9 shared

• Krista J. Bailey

  9 shared

Education

• B.S., Agricultural Education

  Texas A&M University

• M.S., Agricultural Education

  Texas A&M University

• Ph.D., Agricultural Education

  Iowa State University