EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION

W. Bruce Clevenger – Assistant Professor & Extension EducatorChris L. Bruynis – Assistant Professor & Extension Educator

Barry Ward – Leader, Production Business ManagementRory Lewandowski – Extension Educator

Reaching Ag Lenders is a Gateway to Serve the Risk Management

Needs of Farmers

Session Objectives

• Provide historical overview on Ohio Ag Lenders Schools

• Discuss program development process and topic identification.

• Provide impact of the 2012 schools in Ohio

Industry Dynamics

• Increasing size and scope of Ohio’s commercial farms– Changes the way they look for knowledge– They all work with an agricultural lender

• Decreased number of farm management Extension educators– Changes the way we can deliver

educational programs– Educating the professional working with

the farmer is one approach

School History

• OSU Ag Lender School has 25 year history in some parts of the state

• Tried to expanded the school to 4 locations in 2012 (only 3 were held)– 2 locations in 2010 & 2011– Try to set regionally so no geographic

competition– Also look for areas with banking industry

and local OSU Extension support

Topic Identification

• Host Educators schedule visits with lenders in late summer to discuss farm industry and explore topic ideas

• College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences faculty and Ohio Ag Manager Team members are solicited for topic ideas

Program Format

• One day program– 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

• Five to six topics–Mix of applied and academic topics– Topics vary by site based on local

identified priorities.– Provide copies of all presentations with

support material for future reference–Meal on site to allow for informal

discussion.

Target Audience

• Agricultural loan officers– Primary audience

• Bank leadership – President – Bank officers– Board members

Program Promotion

• Cooperation from local Educator to make contact with private banking institutions extending invitation

• Mass mailing from program organizers to past participants

• Leadership of Farm Credit and Ag Credit systems have been long time supporters

Attendance

• 97 agricultural lenders attended the OSU Extension Ag Lender Seminars

• Two-thirds of the attending lenders were repeat participants

PercentageFirst timer attending 32%2-9 times attending 41%10+ times attending 27%

Topics Offered – Risk Addressed

• Farm Transition Planning - human resource• Future Fertility Resource Needs - production• Many People/Less Poverty - marketing• New Dairy Technologies - production• Ohio Energy Development - marketing• Ohio Farm Business Summary - financial• Ohio Livestock Care Standards - legal• Recovery from Drought - production• Returns to Farm Drainage - financial

Program Evaluation

• Six Point Likert Scale

Pre Topic Post Gain

2.62 New Dairy Technologies (Wooster) 4.52 1.90

3.20 Returns to Farm Drainage (Ottawa) 4.90 1.70

2.77 Many People/Less Poverty (All) 4.17 1.40

2.98 Future Fertility Resource Needs (All) 4.27 1.29

3.72 Farm Transition Planning (All) 5.00 1.28

2.33 Ohio Energy Development (Chillicothe) 3.58 1.25

3.70 Recovery from Drought-Profit 2013 (All) 4.80 1.10

3.50 Ohio Livestock Care Standards (Chillicothe) 4.58 1.08

3.10 Ohio Farm Business Summary (Wooster) 4.17 1.07

Lender’s Use of Knowledge

• Directly = speak with customers as it relates to their farming operation

• Indirectly = use information to review customer portfolios

• Background = professional development and industry awareness

Lender’s Reported Intentions

9,500 Potential Farmers Reached

Additional Opportunities

• Ohio Ag Lenders School presenters were invited to speak on these topics at private bank’s customer appreciation events further increasing the reach and impact of the program

• Programs developed for the Ohio Ag Lenders Schools were used in many venues including webinars directly to farmers following the school.

Questions?

Contacts

• Bruce Clevenger – clevenger.10@osu.edu–419-782-4771 – office

• Chris Bruynis–bruynis.1@osu.edu–740-702-3200 - office