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MSU Ag Ideas to Grow With offers free virtual resources for farmers in March
Virtual educational efforts by Michigan State University Extension are growing as educators work to find a balance between in-person and online connections.
Extension educator Beth Ferry, based in Berrien County, tells Brownfield the traditional Agriculture and Natural Resources Week on MSU’s campus in March is expanding online with the MSU Ag Ideas to Grow With Conference after last year’s success.
“More than 67 percent of our attendees were brand new to extension programming—and those are farmers we’ve never reached before,” she shares.
She says the pandemic made other methods of outreach vital and in turn, more online programs have provided more extension resources across a greater footprint of the state.
“It’s meeting people where they’re at,” she says.
Extension educator Bruce MacKellar, based in Van Buren County, tells Brownfield the changing format is also saving farmers time while they work to find the best fit for their audiences.
“We’re kind of experimenting with new delivery methods and trying to do both,” he says.
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