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 people with 2979 followers.  Social media blue book values each post on the page at almost $10.14/post.  Based on the 425 posts made this year, that is a $4309.50 marketing value to our local extension program.  In addition, to marketing value, the Facebook page has served as an outreach to non-extension users.  The agents receive many questions from non-extension users through the Facebook messenger feature and some have attended events promoted on the page.

In the last year, Warren County Agriculture has put a greater focus on Instagram to promote events, helpful tips, and educational content.  We have reached over 10479 people and engaged with over 413 followers.  Social media blue book values each post at $78/post.   Based on the 151 posts made since July, that is a $11,778 marketing value to our extension program.  

The horticulture and agriculture agents are the main content contributors to the site with the Warren County staff assistants helping with graphic development and calculating analytics. 

SoKy Marketplace Farmer’s Market took a social media course offered by the Cooperative Extension Service. The Agriculture Agent has been working with them to improve consistently, increase content and increase sales for the Farmer’s Market through their Facebook and Instagram Accounts.  During this mentoring period, their Facebook reach has increased by 68.9% to 195,754 and their Instagram reach has increased by over 179.7% to 10,454.  Due to these increases, Farmer's Market Sales increased.  Based on social media blue book, the value of their Facebook posts increased to $12.19 with their 344 posts valued at $4193. The value of their Instagram posts is $105.20 and the 148 posts are valued at $15,569 and 124 stories are valued at $92.62 equals $11,484 of marketing value.

Social media is a powerful tool for the Cooperative Extension Service and our business partners.   By improving our content creation and educational material distribution, we can utilize social media to improve our reach for the delivery of educational content.