Starting out as a new FCS agent in Robertson County, I have had to become imaginative in finding, and sometimes creating, an audience to listen my Extension messages.  It isn't always easy to just decide you will have a program and immediately have an audience show up.  I have already discovered that, just because you want to have a program and impart information, people just don't always show up at the meeting room in your office ready to listen. On my first day on the job, Shannon Farrell, who was at that time the AG/NR Agent in my county, invited me to accompany her to record radio messages on WFTM Radio in Maysville, KY.

WFTM has a listenership of approximately 500,000. Shannon had already prepared scripts to read for their "True to the Farm" show, an area favorite since the 1960's. This show includes many programs of interest to it's rural listeners, some farmers and some otherwise employed. I was glad for my somewhat rusty and unused college telecommunications skills and found it easy to slip into the rhythm of the program reading what Shannon had prepared. 

I began to join her at she went to the station every month and recorded spots featuring information provided to us by Extension. This was short lived, however, as she transferred to another county to become their 4-H Agent. During part of this time I was the sole agent in my county, and my doubled responsibilities didn't allow me to continue with this radio outreach.  However, when a new agent was hired I dusted off my file of scripts and once again contact WFTM.

I decided since I was temporarily the sole agent in my county I would try to air concerns for AG/NR, 4-H and FCS. While it is easy to talk about what you already know, I researched into materials provided by Extension and have been able to air topics that will interest many audiences.  This has also become an excellent way to publicize upcoming events. 4-H Camp, Farmers Market scheduling and even an article about how Farmers deal with their black buzzard problem have given me something to talk about.  It is also an excellent way to impart information regarding health and nutrition issues such as current topics involving Depression, Grandparent raising Grandchildren, Issues with Income Taxes and more.

Sometimes it is difficult as a new agent to go right out and find that audience to hear your message. I like to think that WFTM radio is giving me that opportunity to go into peoples' homes and take the information to them.  In the future I plan to expand this program as well as attempt to actually obtain data of it's effect on those listening to my programs.