Extension
It Starts With Us
Ag Awareness, Marketing & Leadership 2024
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 2024
Audience: Dairy Consumers
Project or Activity: Dairy Promotion Month
Content or Curriculum: Dairy nutrition, recipe demos
Inputs: Media, SUDIA
Date: June 2024
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 2024
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: Fall 2024
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
Farmers are in the legacy business, wanting to pass the farming operation to the next generation. However, only 30% of those farms succeed to the next generation and only 12% to the third generation. Estate planning is an essential tool to help increase this statistic. The Warren County Extension Council identified estate planning as a priority topic because only 33 percent of Americans have an estate plan. A committee was formed to plan and conduct the program to increase tha
Author: Joanna Coles
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Social media presents an incredible marketing opportunity for farmers. The Warren County Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Horticulture developed a social media series targeting farmers’ market vendors, agritourism operators, KY Proud partners, and on-farm business owners. Utilizing University of Kentucky resources and industry standards, they created a three-part series that consisted of classroom instruction, hands-on activities, one-on-one coaching, and after-cl
Author: Joanna Coles
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Maximizing the reach of the educational content we create is essential for reaching diverse audiences and being relevant in the social and educational space. YouTube offers a platform to reach a wider audience while increasing awareness of the Cooperative Extension Service by providing weekly educational videos produced in our office. Warren County Agriculture YouTube Channel has 1780 subscribers. The global reach of Warren County Agriculture includes views from 25 other countries be
