In light of the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, Extension Offices have found themselves in an unprecedented situation. We need to protect our clientele and staff, but our resources are essential to many. The Whitley County Family and Consumer Sciences Program brainstormed ways to reach our clientele with useful information, while still being able to work safely from home and our closed office.

Agent Matti Cornelius and Program Assistant Reagan Weedman decided that informational, and sometimes instructional videos, were the way to go. Ms. Cornelius constructed a YouTube account for the Whitley County FCS program, while Ms. Weedman provided eye-catching graphics for the page. Ms. Cornelius was also the first to create video content for YouTube. Her video, “Electric Pressure Cooking 101” covered everything that is taught in the regular, in person, Electric Pressure Cooker Class offered by Ms. Cornelius, except the tasty samples. The video had 71 views on YouTube, and reached 690 people on Facebook, with one commenter saying, “If you’re afraid of your pressure cooker, be sure to watch this! I bought one last year and still hadn’t used it. I think I can use it now without the fear…”

In the weeks that followed, Ms. Cornelius made two other videos. One on cooking frozen chicken in the Electric Pressure Cooker, and the other on cooking ground meat in the Electric Pressure Cooker. Both videos reached over 100 people, were shared at least 5 times each on Facebook, and viewed 35 or more times on YouTube.

Ms. Weedman has assisted Ms. Cornelius with Pressure Cooker classes, but is still relatively new to this method of cooking. However, because of limited grocery store hours, and the necessity of cooking from one’s freezer and pantry during the pandemic, Ms. Weedman thought now is the time to try a whole chicken in the Electric Pressure Cooker. Ms. Weedman’s video on pressure cooking a whole chicken was viewed 79 times on YouTube, and reached over 100 people on Facebook with one commenter saying, “I’m afraid of electric pressure cookers, [but] you made it look super easy.” Ms. Weedman went on to make two videos for the Air Fryer. Air Fryer classes had been requested before offices began to close. Ms. Weedman and Ms. Cornelius hoped these videos would reach some of the individuals that were looking for information on air fryers and help them until in person classes can resume. Ms. Weedman’s Air Fryer Eggs and Air Fryer Donuts videos were well received, reaching 124 people with shares 4 times, and reaching 278 people with 10 shares, respectively on Facebook. Each video has been viewed around 50 times on YouTube. Ms. Weedman is currently working on videos that will provide controlled portions, and be appropriate for those with health concerns, like counting caloric and carbohydrate intake.

Due to the success of these videos, Ms. Cornelius and Ms. Weedman continue plans for new videos, even when normal office operations resume. It is their belief that publishing educational videos on YouTube is a great way to introduce the FCS program further into the social media age, and hopefully reach audiences of all ages and backgrounds with just the click of a button or swipe of a finger.