The Warren County Extension Service has worked with the Farm and Home Show for 20+ years as a platform for other Extension Agents and Specialists to share research based information from the University of Kentucky. This educational, 5 minute show shares seasonal topics related to the farm and the home and is broadcast on the WBKO TV Station to residents across the South Central Kentucky viewing area. 

When the coronavirus struck, the TV station informed the office that they could no longer allow guests in the studio for safety reasons. The Warren County Extension Office was determined to continue this show despite the fact of not being able to film in studio with the help of audio and producer assistance.  

Beginning in March, agents took on a new approach and role with the Farm and Home Show than they had before the pandemic. Agents learned how to use new equipment, Skype for Business, editing software, as well as filming more episodes in the media room at the Warren County Extension Office. The agriculture extension agent coordinated and scheduled agents to tape segments well in advance so there was additional time for editing and to deliver finished shows to the station in a timely fashion. 

As of July 15, 2020, Warren County Extension Agents have produced, edited and shared 70+ educational shows on a myriad of subjects from farm topics, 4-H project kits, nutritional recipes, gardening tips and tasks to perform, safety information as well as mental health activities to do around the home. Generally, the outreach for the Farm and Home Show would be 20,000 when the show aired in the morning between 5:15 and 5:30 AM. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, WBKO showed the Farm and Home Show multiple times throughout the day thereby extending the outreach to 25,000 with earned media time valued at $3300.00 for each episode. During this time, the horticulture extension agent taped 18 segments for the Farm and Home Show which earns $59,400 for the Warren County Cooperative Extension Service. 

After episodes initially aired on WBKO, agents posted and scheduled them on each of their program’s Facebook pages. Segments were shown on Warren County Agriculture, Warren County Extension Master Gardeners, Warren County 4-H, Warren County NEP, and Living Well in Warren County. Adding episodes to these social media sites further increased the outreach and kept pages active and engaged. 

During the pandemic, the Warren County Extension Office could have easily thrown up their hands and said we can’t tape under the circumstances. However, thanks to the leadership of the agriculture extension agent and other agents willing to take on new responsibilities, our outreach through the Farm and Home Show has served as a catalyst for Warren County residents and South Central Kentucky communities.