‘Barnyards and Backyards Live’ educates Wyoming small-acreage landowners during pandemic

‘Barnyards and Backyards Live’ educates Wyoming small-acreage landowners during pandemic

In March 2020, all face-to-face workshops and small-acreage programs were cancelled when the COVID-19 crisis hit Wyoming. To continue providing education to small-acreage landowners and residents, the University of Wyoming Extension small-acreage coordinator and rangelands team developed a series of virtual live shows. “Barnyards and Backyards Live” provided a platform to educate the Wyoming public on a diverse variety of topics.

The team produced 35, one-hour webinars that were broadcast simultaneously on Facebook Live and allowed for interaction with program participants. Each show featured a guest speaker having casual conversation with program hosts on a range of topics including:

• Soils for Successful Vegetable Gardens
• Grazing Small Acreages
• The Ins and Outs of Pasture Irrigation
• Wyoming Pollinators
• Game Meat – Safety and Processing.

A total of 2,272 individuals participated; they lived in town, on small acreages and ranches. The programs were recorded and made available on the University of Wyoming Extension YouTube channel and since have had 1,983 views. After an online survey, 123 participants indicated they would use the information to change procedures on their property.