In an age where technology and instant communication are commonplace, the Scott County Agriculture and Natural Resources newsletter, “The Farmacy”, was a bit behind the times. September 2020 marked the first time the newsletter had been sent out electronically through email. Prior to that date, it was sent by mail to over 980 contacts. These contacts included duplicates, deceased individuals, and several that had moved away from the community. The process of mailing to 980 contacts took, at minimum, 2 days to complete. This included design, editing, printing, folding, labeling, sorting, and then mailing. Not to mention the thousands of pieces of paper that were used in the process.

The 3 months prior to the switch to email I ran a campaign to have people register to receive the newsletter in their email inbox. We were able to sign up 392 people to our new distribution list using the campaign and emails previously in our database. I also had 16 contacts ask to still receive the newsletter by mail. These numbers are smaller than our previous list, but this number represents people who actively sought out the newsletter to read and use. It has allowed for more efficient use of time and resources in the office. The time it takes to design, edit, and send a newsletter can be as little as a couple hours.

Because of the switch I am now able to reach my contacts at a click of a button. This allows for the sharing of information at any time and quick correspondence on time sensitive issues. I am able to include more information in my email newsletter with links to articles of interest for contacts to explore further. One email I received from a contact made the switch worthwhile. They said “Nice newsletter, Ben, and what a convenience to open and read over coffee this morning! Kudos for saving money and emailing to all.”