Success StoryLisianthus Short Course 2022



Lisianthus Short Course 2022

Author: Alexis Amorese Sheffield

Planning Unit: Horticulture

Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial

Plan of Work: Increasing quality and quantity of small agriculture practices

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

On November 21, 2022, Farmer Bailey, a native of Kentucky and popular cut flower influencer, was featured to speak about production of Lisianthus, a crop many Kentucky growers struggle to produce. More than 1,440 people registered for the Zoom session. Nearly 700 people participated in the webinar, with most present for the entire 1.5 hr session. 145 questions were answered, showing really great engagement of the participants. Nearly 300 completed the pre-webinar poll questions showing: 

  • 28 (10%) webinar participants completing the poll were located in KY, indicating we reached our target of educating KY cut flower growers, plus a high demand nationally (91% of viewers, including KY), with an international reach (Australia 1 (<1%), Canada 54 (8%), Netherlands 1 (<1%), New Zealand 3 (<1%), United Kingdom 3 (<1%), ); 
  • 2% do not grow, 16% <1 yr production experience, 64% 1-5 yrs, 11% 5-10 yrs, and 7% 10+ yrs experience, showing that the webinar reached our target of educating growers, rather than hobbyists and most were newer growers who really need good production information; 
  • 72% growers, 12% pre-commercial, 13% enthusiast, and 3% other, demonstrating that we reached our target of educating growers; most viewers are currently or plan to be cut flower growers. 


This session was apart of the KY Cut Flower Short Courses, hosted and planned in part by Boyle and Warren Co. Horticulture agents in partnership with the KY Horticulture Council and Center for Crop Diversification.