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. The 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, zoom for remote recording, editing software, as well as filming more episodes in the media room at the Warren County Extension Office. The family and consumer sciences agents coordinated and scheduled agents and specialists to tape segments 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, 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.

The earned media value also increased due to the multiple showing of these educational segments. The family and consumer sciences agent, hosted, taught, and produced 30 shows from March – July 2020. Each segment is worth $3300 in earned media value totaling $99,000. The increased airing has also increased our calls and emails 50% about the topics discussed on the show and has increased the awareness of the Cooperative Extension Service in South Central Kentucky.