The Cooperative Extension Service aims to reach all people of Kentucky. With today’s fast paced lifestyle people often receive their news and information by means of social media. Newsletter mailings and newspaper articles no longer suffice for reaching the majority of the population. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center as of August 2017, two-thirds (67%) of Americans report that they get at least some of their news on social media – with two-in-ten doing so often. This increase in social media use opens a new frontier for marketing extension programming and information.

Scott County Cooperative Extension Service Family & Consumer Sciences has had a Facebook page for several years but it was seldom used. Since establishing a consistently active social media presence the page has secured 395 “likes” from other Facebook users. Additionally, the page shares daily updates of information from the University of Kentucky. On average, the page reaches 1,286 people per week.

By utilizing the events function on the page we were able to reach new audiences who had not previously attended extension programming. We advertised for several classes including Canning 101, Pressure Cookers, and Beginning Quilting. The average attendance for these classes was over 40 individuals. Of those in attendance, 68% indicated they learned of the event by Facebook. Furthermore, of those who learned about the event by Facebook, 72% indicated it was the first time they had attended a Cooperative Extension Program.