The global pandemic profoundly changed the face of Extension programming. While the public health crisis taught us much about how to program remotely, one thing remained clear, clientele appreciate the convenience of remote programming, and it does effectively reach broad audiences with enhanced learner engagement. It also emphasized that adaptation is essential for remaining relevant to the ever-changing needs of our clientele. Additionally, Book Clubs are recognized as innovative educational opportunities that engage clientele.

Family and Consumer Sciences Extension at the University of Kentucky developed Big Blue Book Club (BBBC) as an effort to elevate learning using an innovative delivery method that would enhance social connections for clientele. The learning program was created in response to agent concerns about general morale of clientele who had been isolated and quarantined during the pandemic. The program goals to boost feelings of connectedness between participants and present research-based Family and Consumer Sciences content responsive to community needs, are effectively met through various teaching modalities utilized by the content specialists who serve as moderators for each session. Book club selections are reviewed and evaluated based on the Kentucky Community Needs Assessments of 2018 and 2024 with identified areas of specific need throughout the Commonwealth. Substance use, health and wellness, and financial literacy skills have consistently been identified as key concerns throughout the state.  10 books have been shared featuring topics related to nutrition and wellness, family finance and resource management, life skills, and substance use disorder in families.  More than 3,000 participants have received free copies of the selected books from the state or local extension offices or have access to the book through local libraries and online borrowing sources. Many local offices currently host “watch” parties giving the state specialist facilitated virtual discussions a face-to-face component for interested participants.

During FY 2025 Big Blue Book Club was presented three times in three unique formats. First, Maternal and Child Nutrition Extension Specialist Dr. Courtney Luecking and Food and Nutrition Associate, Anna Cason shared Big Blue Book Club presents SNACK Club, an asynchronous learning opportunity where participants could watch (or listen as all sessions were also presented as podcasts) at their own pace. Two books were featured for this session: Raising a Happy, Healthy Eater by Nimali Fernando and Melanie Potock and How to Raise a Mindful Eater by Maryann Jacobsen.  These books were divided into eight "themes" and presented over the course of four weeks during the month of September.  Shows "dropped" at midnight on Mondays and Thursdays each week, recognizing that parents who are in the "throws" of feeding young children might only have a few minutes to spare in the wee hours of the morning, although shows were available via YouTube or the Talking FACS podcast whenever their schedules allowed. While this book club session was tailored specifically to those who are feeding young children on a regular basis (parents and caregivers) the content is appropriate for grandparents and others who care for children occasionally, too.

The second Big Blue Book Club of FY 2025 shared Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson, was presented in 2024. The author (a native Kentuckian) was guest presenter for this session sharing favorite excerpts from the book while answering questions from participants. Throughout the evening, Extension Specialist Mindy McCulley and Extension Associate Jeanne Badgett engaged participants with audience response questions to provide opportunities for enhanced learning.

The third Big Blue Book Club featured My Old Kentucky Road Trip: Historic Destinations and Natural Wonders by Cameron Ludwick and Blair Thomas Hess (also Kentucky natives). The 10th installment of the Big Blue Book Club took a sharp turn in Spring 2025 and Extension faculty, specialists and clientele went on a road trip. Mindy McCulley and Amy Kostelic facilitated the first in-person book club with “My Old Kentucky Road Trip”. Travel-themed book clubs offer several benefits for overall well-being. Combining reading, social interaction and exploration enhances empathy and emotional well-being, stimulates cognition, and contributes to personal growth and self-reflection. Travel can also inspire creativity, encourage mindfulness and enhance confidence and self-esteem. As a result, the planning stages not only included promotion and recruitment like with previous books, but we implemented major changes in program design. This was the first cross-disciplinary Book Club session, as well as the first session to offer a live component. Each of the six live session (that were also shared via Zoom or recordings) featured a location in Kentucky that was highlighted in the book and an FCS component including, Budgeting for Travel, Traveling with Kids, Eating Locally and Safely with Traveling, Traveling for Mindfulness and Social Connections and Travel Safety.  The authors helped us kick-off the road trip in Frankfort, where we also learned about the Historical Marker program at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Choosing off-the-beaten path locations to host book club sessions brought state-wide exposure to the communities of Fulton, Horse Cave, Versailles, Eminence, and Lynch, where we learned about local sites of interest as well as Extension's impact on the community.

While 682 people participated in Big Blue Book Club this year (~48% repeat participants), 2,118 unique participants representing 112 Kentucky counties (93%) have been involved in BBBC programming during the past four years. Quantitative and qualitative measures have been used to evaluate the program and confidence in the delivery method’s validity is generated by the high retention rate of participants. Evaluation data indicates that 92% of survey respondents have learned something valuable that they intend to implement and 88% report discussing book club content with someone else suggesting a social multiplier effect may exist. As one participant shared, “The Laundry Love webinar has already saved me so much money and my clothing smells fresh. I never knew until after attending this book club that the reason my clothes smelled musty was because I was using TOO MUCH detergent. Thank you for hosting a series with practical knowledge presented in a fun way! I could have stayed on all night!”

As demonstrated by the Big Blue Book Club, innovative programming methods can span diverse content areas and be used to address assorted interests and important concerns faced by local communities.