Extension
It Starts With Us
Ag Awareness, Marketing & Leadership 2023
Agriculture
Joanna Coles, Julie Brown & Kristin Hildabrand
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
With more citizens at least one generation removed from the farm, it is crucial for individuals and communities to understand the importance of agriculture. Ag awareness was identified as a high priority in the Warren County needs assessment survey and for the agricultural advisory council. Empowering farmers and agriculturalist to share their story and market their piece of agriculture is essential in this effort.
- Development of agriculture advocates who deliver the importance of agriculture message and are able to think critically about important ag issues.
- Improve profitability of farms.
- Individuals engage in the development of agriculture awareness materials and events
- Adopt marketing principles
- Individuals are made aware of the importance of agriculture
- Individuals participate in leadership training
Initial Outcome: Individuals engage in learning more about agriculture & farmers learn more about marketing.
Indicator: Individuals state they gained knowledge and are aware of importance of agriculture and marketing principles.
Method: Participation at events or engaging in media campaigns. Post session evaluation.
Timeline: Ongoing
Intermediate Outcomes: Content developed to promote agricultural awareness by local leadership. Farmers adopt marketing principles.
Indicator: Number reached through educational content & number of individuals involved
Method: Educational distribution and follow up surveys.
Timeline: Ongoing content
Long-term Outcomes: Agricultural advocates engaged in public policy and strategic planning and farmers increase profitability due to marketing techniques.
Indicator: Number of individuals involved in agriculture advocacy and to increase in farm income.
Method: Observations
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Beef Consumers
Project or Activity: Beef Promotion Month
Content or Curriculum: Beef nutrition, cuts and recipe demos
Inputs: Media, grant funding, KY Beef Council, Cattlemen’s Association
Date: May 2023
Audience: Dairy Consumers
Project or Activity: Dairy Promotion Month
Content or Curriculum: Dairy nutrition, recipe demos
Inputs: Media, SUDIA
Date: June 2023
Audience: Community Leaders, Farmers, Local Food Enthusiasts
Project or Activity: Ag Awareness Breakfast
Content or Curriculum: Ag Awareness
Inputs: Volunteers, farmers, sponsors, facilities
Date: March 2023
Audience: Farmers & Consumers
Project or Activity: Farm & Home Show
Content or Curriculum: Timely Agriculture Topics
Inputs: Agent’s Time, specialists, WBKO camera & production team
Date: 5 episodes 5:15am
Audience: Farmers & Consumers
Project or Activity: Ag Connections
Content or Curriculum: Timely Agriculture Topics
Inputs: Agent’s Time, specialists, WKCT production team, sponsors
Date: Tuesdays 8:30am
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Warren County Ag Facebook Page
Content or Curriculum: Timely Agriculture Topics and Event Announcements
Inputs: Staff Assistant’s Time
Date: Weekly Plus Updates
Audience: Farmers & Consumers
Project or Activity: Warren County Ag Website
Content or Curriculum: Timely Agriculture Topics and Event Announcements
Inputs: Staff Time, Equipment Content
Date: Monthly Updates
Audience: Agritourism Operators
Project or Activity: Agritourism Group Marketing
Content or Curriculum: Agritourism Group Marketing
Inputs: Agent’s Time, KDA Time, Tourism Partnerships, Brochures
Date:
Audience: Consumers and Non-traditional Farmers
Project or Activity: YouTube
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture, Food, Horticulture
Inputs: Staff time, video production, video editing
Date: Weekly
Audience: Producers
Project or Activity: Warren County Ag Blog
Content or Curriculum: Ag News
Inputs: Agent’s Time, Staff Assistant’s Time
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Farmers/Food Entrepreneurs
Project or Activity: Social Media for Farmers
Content or Curriculum: Content Creation, Audiences, Analytics
Inputs: Agent’s Time, Staff Time, Social Media Stats
Date: Winter 2023
Author: Joanna Coles
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Social media represents a huge potential for outreach for the Cooperative Extension Service. Since July 2016, Warren County Agriculture’s social media presence has increased its scope and interaction. The platform focuses on timely agriculture and horticulture educational information, promotion of events, agriculture awareness campaigns, and recognition of local farmers. From July 2022-June 2023, Warren County Agriculture Facebook page reached 289,099 accounts and engaged 11003
Author: Joanna Coles
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Warren County Extension Service has worked with the Farm and Home Show for 20+ years as a platform for other Extension Agents and Specialists to share research-based information from the University of Kentucky. This educational, 5-minute show shares seasonal topics related to the farm and the home and is broadcast on the WBKO TV Station to residents across the South-Central Kentucky viewing area.Warren County Extension Agents have produced, edited, and shared daily educational shows on a myr
Author: Joanna Coles
Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Motivating and Educating Agricultural Leaders (MEAL) was created by a group of Mammoth Cave Area Agriculture Agents to develop leadership skills for farmers. The 18-month course provided farmers an opportunity to learn key leadership skills and network with others in south-central Kentucky and was scheduled around major farming tasks and didn’t take them away from the farm overnight. Evaluation results after program completion indicated that 100% of the participants felt more c
