An Effective Educational Approach for Working With Adult Farmers

ABSTRACT Today's changing agriculture requires that new approaches to educational programs should be developed for the adult farmer. A project was initiated among corn producers in Thurston County in northeast Nebraska in 1969 with the basic objective of developing an educational approach that would involve the adult farmer. Twenty‐two farmers agreed to participate in a “Top Profit Corn Club” by keeping records of their costs involved in corn production. After yields, costs, and returns to management were recorded, they were calculated, analyzed, and discussed with participating farmers. Information collected from the participant group was used as a basis for educational efforts directed toward other farmers in the county. Changes in production costs over a 3‐year period indicated that participating farmers were receptive to new information that was incorporated in the discussions. Interest shown among other farmers attending countywide meetings indicated that this approach was an effective tool for reaching adult farmers.