Linking Animal and Human Health: Toolkits to use for Ag and Rural Audiences

Originating University: Utah State University Extension

Cultivating Vaccine Awareness Among Farmers and Rural Adults: Toolkits for Extension Professionals. These toolkits give Extension programs a short, credible, agriculture-first talk that reduces vaccine hesitancy by using familiar livestock examples to explain safety, effectiveness, and economics of vaccination, then bridge to human vaccines. There are also small-group conversation cards, materials and social media campaigns designed to help educators lead respectful and productive conversations.

If you choose to adopt an EXCITE program, we encourage you to connect with your regional EXCITE Health Agent to support the implementation, reporting, and evaluation process so we can collectively demonstrate program impact to stakeholders. Find your regional health agent contact here.

Download Materials:
Animal Presentation Toolkit
Vaccine Education Game
Social Media Toolkit
Conversation Cards Toolkit

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Curriculum Overview Webinar

• Watch a short session introducing this curriculum, including how it was developed, what materials are included, and how Extension professionals can adopt and deliver the program in their communities,
  ▶ Watch the recording

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Learning Objectives

1. Facilitate respectful, productive discussions about vaccines in rural/ag settings.
2. Explain vaccine safety, effectiveness, and economics using familiar livestock examples, then bridge to human vaccines.
3. Share accurate, relatable vaccine information across social media without triggering unproductive or political discourse.
4. Connect audiences to trustworthy one-page handouts and local resources.

What’s Included

• Toolkit 1: Conversation Cards for Extension Programs

  • Cards: Front is one open-ended question. Back is 3–5 plain-language facts, 1 follow-up question, and a QR code to a trustworthy one-page handout.
  • Starter Set Topics: Common animal and human health topics (e.g., biosecurity, BRD, HPV, influenza, RSV, pneumonia).
  • Canva template to copy, localize, and co-brand with your logos and links.

  Toolkit 2: Animal Vaccine Presentation Package

  • Editable PowerPoint slide deck and a short evaluation survey to be used at any livestock-focused event and can be co-branded for counties or partners.

  Toolkit 3: Social Media Toolkit for Rural & Agriculture Populations

  • Purpose: Reduce hesitancy, drive practical actions, and maintain a balanced content mix to keep followers engaged.
  • Social Media campaign example with Posting tips, content and captions, a posting schedule.

How It Works (Delivery Methods)

• Conversation Cards: Use in small groups, tabling, workshops, or program sessions
• Presentation Package: Deliver a concise talk at livestock/producer events that bridges to human vaccines.
• Social Media Toolkit: Run a multi-week campaign using prebuilt posts and captions

Training / Certification

• No formal certification required

Evaluation Plan

• Use the included short survey immediately post-talk.

Expected Outcomes

• Participants will:

  • Increase trust in vaccines and confidence in discussing them.
  • Recognize practical benefits framed through agriculture.
  • Engage with reliable resources and discuss immunization with healthcare providers.

Adopt This Curriculum

• [Download Materials:
  Social Media Toolkit
  Conversation Cards Toolkit
  Animal Presentation Toolkit – slides, conversation cards, social media templates