Combining Styker and Burkes' definitions, self-identity includes factors that influence a

person's perception of him/herself based on an internal understanding or external

influences (Styker & Burke, 2002). Conner and Armitage (1998) define self-identity as

"the salient part of an actor's self which relates to a particular behavior. It reflects the

extent to which an actor sees him- or herself fulfilling the criteria for any role" as affected

by internal or self and external or social influences (Conner & Armitage, 1998, p. 1444).

 Identity theory implies that people will behave in ways that conform to their self-

image. The stronger a person's self identity, the more likely the individual will behave

consistently with that identity. Wilson, Urban, Graves and Morrison's research (2003)

with mid-western farmers illustrate this relationship. One component of the research

examines the degree to which Central Illinois farmers' identities are related to their daily

agricultural practices. Sixty percent of the farmers in the study use plow till farming.

Many of these farmers "spurn or nominally adopt no-till farming" (Wilson, Urban,

Graves & Morrison, 2003, p.28). The rejection of no-till farming is associated with their

beliefs that plow tillage is efficient and effective. No or minimum tillage is also

associated with government intervention or outside control. Many of these farmers

distrust the government and external authorities for various reasons and try to reject their

programs when they can. No-till is also rejected because it is seen "to dirty the rural

landscape" (p.28). Seventy percent of these farmers associated no-till farming as

countering farm aesthetics. This research implies that these farmers' self-identity is

related to rejecting external and government intervention and preserving farm aesthetics.

Their rejection of no or minimum tillage practices reinforces this identity. On the other

end, the adoption of no or minimum tillage by other farmers also reinforced their identity

as promoters of environmental conservation. I build upon Wilson's research to consider