Chandra DeRamus

Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension

FCS Agent, Hardin County

Success Story: September 30, 2020 

Success Story: “The Paradigm Shift from Traditional Cooperative Extension Programs to Virtual Video Programs at Kentucky State University”

The year of 2020 has brought about new ways of programming for Cooperative Extension as a whole.  Starting in March of this year, the world was impacted by the corona virus pandemic.  The corona virus was later referred to as COVID-19.  In an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus the state of Kentucky was placed on a temporary stay in place by the governor.  The majority of people within Kentucky were unable to leave their homes for their regular weekly activities such as the following: Going to work, restaurants, the movies, sporting events, church and other places.  The governor for the state of Kentucky enforced a work from home or remote work policy where going out is very limited and in some cases impossible.  This has changed the way that our society functions as a whole.  Furthermore, it has brought about a huge change on how community programs are offered to its local citizens.  For Kentucky State University’s (KSU) Cooperative Extension, county extension agents had to find new ways to reach different audiences within their counties whether it be thru video or thru some other means of communication.  

As a result of the working remote or Teleworking order, extension programs eventually transitioned into offering virtual programs via pre-recorded videos and live videos to accommodate the needs of its citizens.  Since about March 2020, KSU Extension programs started the process of offering its extension programs on-line virtually.  In Elizabethtown Kentucky, this new way of offering programs made it so that being able to participate in a program was much easier and more accessible for people in any type of situation.  Also by offering the classes on-line thru video or webinars anyone who was interested in learning about Nutrition Education or a new life skill could learn a new skill by tuning into one of the programs on-line. 

For Hardin County, consumers seemed to have more of an interest in finding new ways to save money on groceries, and learning about how to improve upon their overall health and well-being.  In addition, getting information about new diet trends was of high interest to citizens.  To meet the need of the consumers, one of the Family and Consumer Science county agent’s, Chandra DeRamus, in Hardin County developed a series of Nutrition Education videos that showed consumers how to make the most of their food budget and how to select foods that are healthier for their bodies.  A video series was created that featured topics such as, “Meal Kits vs. Home Cooked Meals, Fad Diets: The Mediterranean Diet and the Gluten Free Diet, Tips on using Air Fryer’s, and The Effects of Consuming Carbonated Drinks,” was developed. To add even more interest into the video series, a guest speaker from KSU, Dr. Kristopher Grimes, a State Specialist in Nutrition from Kentucky State University, was asked to be a guest speaker in the videos.  Dr. Grimes shared some very insightful advice on the science of Nutrition based on research that he has conducted with the university.  

The impact the video series has had on programming for Hardin County has been very successful.  By showing the videos, the Nutrition Education program’s exposure has grown by at least 30%.  More viewers did watch the program on-line versus when the program was just held in at the extension office or at a public place. In addition, four new organizations now collaborate and do programs with KSU’s Cooperative Extension programs since the videos are being shown on-line via social media thru Facebook and YouTube.  

One of the organizations in particular, the Hardin County Public Library, has been very involved in sharing the Nutritional educational videos on Facebook and on YouTube channels.  The total amount of viewers who have participated in the on-line programs is about 225 participants.  In fact, viewers have either commented on-line or via completing surveys that the videos have encouraged them to eat more fruits and vegetables.  Some of the viewers said that they did learn how to read & understand nutrition fact labels from watching the videos.  

    In closing, the video series on Nutrition Education has had a major impact on programming in Hardin county.  The Nutrition Education Video series program just shows that more people are learning how to access more nutritious foods and learning about the benefits of consuming more fruits and vegetables using different kinds of media.   It is our hope that our programs continue to expand into new communities and organizations around the state of Kentucky, allowing us to form new alliances and collaborations and meet the needs of new audiences.    

Pictured Above: Chandra DeRamus, Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension, FCS Extension Agent, Hardin County

Family Resource Kits: Nutrition Education for Youth Organization: P.U.R.E.

Timeframe: August 2020

Pictured Above:  Chandra DeRamus, Kentucky State University, FCS Extension Agent, Hardin County

Flyer: Developed for an on-line program for Facebook page (social media website) for Hardin County’s Public Library in Elizabethtown, KY 

Video Presentation: “Using an Air Fryer to Create Nutritious Snacks”

Timeframe: August 2020

Success Story September 2020 The Paradigm Shift Traditional to Virtual Program KSU.pdf

Pictured Above: Chandra DeRamus, Kentucky State University Coop. Ext, FCS Extension Agent, Hardin County

Video Presentation: Fad Diets: The Mediterranean Diet and the Gluten Free Diet

Organization: Hardin County Public Library Facebook Page, You Tube Channel

Timeframe: August 2020

Pictured Above: Chandra DeRamus, Kentucky State University, FCS Extension Agent, Hardin County

Virtual Program: Video Presentation for Hardin County Public Library (Facebook & You Tube) Video Presentation Title: The Truth about Carbonated Drinks: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Timeframe: September 2020