Transcript Focusing On Ag Couples

Focusing On Ag Couples
Darlene Miller
County Extension Director
Hamilton-Wayne-White Extension
Goals
Develop a weekend activity that would:
• Provide a relaxing weekend for couples
• Provide educational information about
agriculture-related businesses
• Provide educational opportunity on
relationships
Where Did The Idea Come From?
• I had heard a few other Extension offices had
organized a farm couples day. Sometimes, the men
went their way and women went theirs once they
reached the destination. I liked this idea, but
wanted the couples to participate in all the
activities together and I wanted it to be a weekend.
• I wanted to do a couples retreat to focus on
relationships.
• So, I decided to incorporate the two ideas.
Target Audience
• Landowners who are actively involved in
farming
• Both husband and wife are actively
involved in the farming operation
• Couples between the age of 30 - 55
Target Destinations
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Ag-Related businesses within 2 hours
Variety of businesses
New and innovative businesses
Free or no charge for tour
Unique restaurants for meals
Reasonable overnight accommodations
Timing of Event
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End of fall harvest
Prior to cold weather
Potential 3-day weekend
After high school football and before high
school basketball
• Around other Extension programs
Planning the Event
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Determined best date for event
Contacted potential tour locations
Contacted potential lodging facilities
Contacted charter bus service
Developed invitation
Sent invitations
Actual Itinerary
• Tour of ethanol plant
• Dinner, lodging and relationship
presentation at Amish Village
• Tour of wood carving shop
• Lunch on Ohio River
• Tour of winery
• Antique shopping
Relationship Presentation Goals
• Fun
• Something both men and women would be
interested in and enjoy
• Talk about the importance of taking time to
focus on the needs of your partner
• Not too long or too serious
• Participation from participants – not a
lecture
Relationship Presentation
Farm Machinery Maintenance –
Or Something Like That!
• Icebreaker
• Identified why time is taken to maintain
farm equipment
• Directly compared these reasons to why
time should be taken to maintain a
relationship
Relationship Presentation
Farm Machinery Maintenance –
Or Something Like That!
• Couples participated in all the discussions.
• To wrap up, I read the book “Fannies Dream” (and
gave everyone a copy of the book).
• The presentation was a tremendous success.
• Couples had a lot of fun, yet had the opportunity,
in a non-threatening way, to think about the
importance of spending time with their partner.
Pro’s and Con’s
• Very difficult to
schedule last minute
• Very difficult to recruit
farm couples
• Very difficult to find
things of interest
• Very difficult to create
relationship program
• Lots of fun
• Tours were very
informative
• Couples bonded
• Relationship
presentation was
extremely wellreceived
Evaluations
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Extremely positive
Couples enjoyed all aspects of the program
Couples want to go on another trip this fall
Every time the couples see me, they ask if I
have planned the next trip
In Summary
• Difficult to plan and recruit, but well-worth
the time and effort
• Held spring dinner for participants to
brainstorm about potential dates and
locations for fall trip
• I look forward to this becoming an annual
event