IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME) e-ISSN: 2320–7388,p-ISSN: 2320–737X Volume 4, Issue 6 Ver. I (Nov - Dec. 2014), PP 15-35 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 15 | Page Influence Of Young Farmers’ Club Of Kenya Activities On Secondary School Students’ Performance In Kenya Certificate Of Secondary Education Agriculture in Rongai Sub-County Of Nakuru County, Kenya 1 David Njoroge, 2 Prof. John Gowland Mwangi, 3 Dr. Maurice O. Udoto 123 , Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Egerton University P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya. Abstract: Young Farmers’ Club (YFC) activities are vital in the mastery and attainment of skills in the agriculture subject since it is best found out by practicing. Increased youth participation in agricultural production is necessary and vital in facilitating food and nutritional security. The primary objective of YFCK is to train young people to be productive future farmers. Since secondary school education is terminal to the majority of the youth, non-attainment of lifelong skills in agriculture may lead to low standards of living and a decline in agricultural productivity. The study sought to demonstrate the influence of YFCK activities on secondary school students’ performance in KCSE Agriculture in Rongai Sub-County. It employed a cross- sectional survey design to collect data from a target population of 1,506 YFCK members in 30 public secondary schools. Purposive sampling method was used to select eight secondary schools to represent all the types and categories of schools in the four Divisions of the Rongai Sub-County. Proportionate sampling method was then used to obtain a sample of 175 YFCK members. All the 13 Agriculture teachers were used for data analysis. Questionnaires validated by two experts from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension of Egerton University were used to collect data. Reliability of the instrument was estimated through a pilot-test using 50 YFCK members of the Jomo Kenyatta secondary school in the Nakuru North Sub-County. It achieved a reliability coefficient of 0.72 and 0.73 for YFCK members and Agriculture teachers respectively, at a significance level of α= 0.05. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to Agriculture teachers and YFCK members. Computations were carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The outcome of the study indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between the mean scores in KCSE Agriculture of schools with active and non-active YFCK. Participation in YFCK was limited for schools in the study. The KCSE Agriculture mean scores for schools in the study were higher than the overall schools mean scores between 2008 and 2012. The researcher recommends that Agriculture teachers in liaison with school administration should enhance YFCK activities. This is for effective practical activities in teaching and learning of agriculture subject according to the syllabus. Key Words: Academic performance, Agriculture teacher, Young Farmer, Young Farmers’ Club I. Introduction Mobilizing the youths for national development is a common phenomenon amongst the western and developing nations. In such nations as Great Britain, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, The United States of America and Tanzania, the participation of youths in agricultural production through youth programs had contributed significantly to agricultural growth and empowering the citizenry (Daudu, Okwoche, & Adegboye, 2009). Many young people view farming as hard, backbreaking and dirty work with little self-esteem (Mangal, 2009). Young Farmers‟ Clubs can help youth see farming as a dignified profession from which people can make a decent livelihood and not where the practitioners are condemned to poverty (Olujide, 2008).In many developed states, Young Farmers‟ Clubs are active and well established for instance; the Dominion Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (DFYFC) has served to establish Young Farmers' Clubs throughout New Zealand (McLintock, 2009). Canada takes in its own 4-H program, which broadcasts data on new farming methods and maintains experimental farms, research stations, and research institutions throughout the country. In Australia, each state has several agricultural research stations and an extension service. Great Britain has a program of youth clubs called a Young Farmer's Clubs that resemble 4-H (National 4-H, 2012). In England and Wales YFC, activities encompass agriculture, athletics, community volunteering, environment, and social activities (National Federation of Young Farmers‟ Clubs [NFYFC], 2011). According to Hantos (2010) in the rural policies of the European Union (EU), more emphasis has been made in the past 5-10 years to support bills that target at making farming more attractive for new people. In the United States of America agricultural education at the high school, level focuses on three chief categories: classroom instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), and active participation in the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America)