SMALL FARM EXTENSION EMAIL LISTSERVE
Extension Education
Betsy Wieland
Center Program Manager
U of M EXTENSION
St. Paul
Abstract
\r\n Many Minnesotans with, or starting, small farms are unfamiliar with Extension. Due to diverse interests, prior to the listserve, there was not one venue to reach them all. Betsy Wieland, Extension Small Farm Team member, created the Small Farm Extension Email Listserve to build a relationship with this audience. The listserve began in September 2009 with 100 email addresses from an Extension event. Distribution began with occasional emails regarding upcoming events, evolving into weekly emails. Membership grew by word of mouth to 500 in February 2011. The emails have five parts; a casual introductory paragraph, summary, upcoming educational events, news, and job/internship/grant opportunities. An online survey was sent to the listserve members to understand the listserve’s impacts. Of the 500 listserve members, 158 responded within 7 days (31.6% response rate). Results indicate 71.4% of respondents have a small farm, 26.5% are thinking of starting a small farm, 52.3% have forwarded an email 1-5 times, 63.2% of those emails were forwarded to 1-5 people, 94.8% approve of the casual style (some finding it more inviting than other University newsletters), and 60.9% have attended one or more events because of the emails. News items that caught people’s attention include; Farm Bill and state legislative news, vegetable farming information, and poultry information. Eight people have applied for a position or grant seen in the emails. The Small Farm Extension Email Listserve is building a strong relationship between Extension and Small Farms in Minnesota by providing relevant information in an inviting manner.
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Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
Click to view Poster
Authors: B. Wieland
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Wieland, B. Agriculture Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota, 55401