View Poster Application

USING A TEAM APPROACH TO VIRTUAL COMMODITY MEETINGS IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

Extension Education

Kerrie Roach
Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture
Clemson Extension
Walhalla

Abstract

The worldwide pandemic brought significant challenges to program delivery for Extension Agents across the nation in 2020. As the year moved into what was traditionally the season for local commodity meetings, Clemson Extension commercial fruit and vegetable agents made the decision to work cooperatively to bring statewide virtual meetings to the growers of South Carolina. This decision was well received and a calendar of programming with division of duties was quickly produced. Agents formed small teams based on content expertise, grower connections, and preference to plan, implement and evaluate each commodity meeting. A statewide marketing schematic was developed to ensure meetings were seen as a cohesive unit of the larger Clemson University Cooperative Extension system. All registrations, links and QR codes were directed to the team blog page at SCGrower.com. While initially viewed as a crutch only to be used during the pandemic, virtual programming quickly enabled agents to reach double the audience from the previous season, triple the number of programs offered, provide excellent cutting-edge content from thirty-six specialists across the United States, and to increase grower interaction on the team blog site by an average of more than 300% each month. The team also initiated a live weekly chat session, ‘SC Grower Exchange’ for growers discussing current field situations which is also available on-demand as a podcast. Additional monthly virtual workshops, ‘CU’ltivating SC Growers’ are now offered that cover timely field topics and offer pesticide credits to growers. Virtual programming may not be considered ideal for this type of training, but due to the success of the Clemson Extension Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Team during the 2020-21 commodity meeting season, virtual aspects will be added to all in-person trainings in the future.

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: K. Roach, Snipes Zachary, Scott Sarah, Ballew Justin, McLean Bruce, Melton Anthony, Rollins Phillip
  1. Roach, K. Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture, Clemson Extension, South Carolina, 29691
  2. Zachary, S. Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture, Clemson Extension, South Carolina, 29401
  3. Sarah, S. Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture, Clemson Extension, South Carolina, 29824
  4. Justin, B. Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture, Clemson Extension, South Carolina, 29072
  5. Bruce, M. Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture, Clemson Extension, South Carolina, 29536
  6. Anthony, M. Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture, Clemson Extension, South Carolina, 29709
  7. Phillip, R. Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture, Clemson Extension, South Carolina, 29303