Describe the Issue or Situation.

For the past 8 years, the Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) has been offering online and in-person marketing trainings for small farmers in Kentucky. Year over year, we have had an increase in requests for an extended marketing program, where farmers could work more in-depth on their marketing alongside members of the CCD.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

This year, with the help of a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Department of Agriculture, the CCD launched our inaugural Marketing for All 3.0: Marketing & Branding Academy class. Throughout the 6 week course, the same farmers returned each week to dive deep into a new marketing topic. Farmers had homework that they brought to class with them and online resources to access in between sessions. Each weekly session consisted of instructional time and workshop time, where farmers worked in real-time with CCD professionals on various marketing topics. The topics covered in this 6-week course are as follows: Farm & Business Branding, Product & Brand Photography, Graphic Design for Marketing, Web Presence & Design, Online Sales Strategies, and Email Marketing.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

12 farmers located in Oldham, Shelby, Trimble, and Henry Counties and 4 ANR agents from these counties.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

Participants completed a weekly evaluation as well as a pre and post-6week course evaluation. 100% of participants indicated that they found the 6- week program to be useful for their business. 

A knowledge change summary of some of the key topics we covered during the 6-week course: