The success of an extension program is often measured relative to the immediate or short term changes in behavior of the participants or another measurable parameter on the crop or animal being impacted by said program.  Documenting these impacts are important, but more important measure of success relates to the impact of the program over the years on the participants and their businesses.  The dairy educational program in Green, Adair, and Taylor Counties, known locally as the Center of KY Dairy Program, is an example of a long-term success in extension programming.  

The original plans for this program began in the fall of 2002 at the grass-roots level with the first educational series of programs presented in the winter of 2003.   This program has been held yearly over the past 20 years and continues to evolve to meet the changing educational needs of its participants.  The topics covered during the first few years formed the scientific foundation in a variety of topic areas.  After this foundation was established, the topic areas were/are suggested by the participants and address their on-going, business-related questions.   These educational programs have utilized various delivery methods including tours to other local farms, demonstrations, field days, and true discussions besides the classical format associated with presentations.  The most successful of these programs are those that first establish a foundation and then use interactive tools where participants modify the assumptions within a topic area to better match their on-farm scenario and then generate a potential outcome or knowledge-base needed for making their own business decisions.  

Some of the current participants were there for the program’s initial years, but the next generation of these initial farmers also are now routine attendees.  Today, these participants’ dairy businesses are some of the top in performance and income in the state with many having seen major increases in performance from the start of this program.  KY dairy farmers, in general, do not like to attend educational programs of any kind and prefer getting information one-on-one from their local suppliers as this format fits their busy schedule. Thus, the fact alone that this program continues today, 20 years after its initiation, is a success in its own right and illustrates it is meeting the educational needs and is valued by its participants for its contents.  Just this last year, one senior dairy farmer from a different county who had not previously participated remarked at the conclusion of the program, that this was one of the best programs he had ever attended.  As with all successful programs, the collective effort of many extension educators and farmers and not just one individual, deserve the credit for its success and on-going success.