Lessons from the Field: Using Farm Visits and Pasture Walks to Strengthen Extension Impact
Early Career Development
Ashley Stonecipher
Agriculture and Food Systems Agent
UF/IFAS Extension
Winter Springs
Abstract
Field visits are a foundational component of Extension programming and play a critical role in building trust, identifying local needs, and delivering practical education to agricultural clientele. In livestock and pasture-based systems, many management challenges cannot be fully understood without observing conditions on-site. Early in an Extension career, developing effective field visit strategies can improve program impact, strengthen community relationships, and increase producer confidence in Extension recommendations. In my county program, field visits frequently involve pasture evaluations, weed identification, and livestock health concerns. Local veterinarians regularly refer producers to Extension when animals exhibit symptoms consistent with potential toxic plant exposure, highlighting the importance of strong partnerships between veterinary and Extension professionals. Through these referrals and producer requests, on-site consultations and pasture walks are conducted to assess plants, identify potential toxic species, and discuss pasture management options. Since beginning my Extension appointment, I have conducted numerous field visits and pasture consultations, assisting livestock producers with plant identification, pasture improvement strategies, and toxic plant risk mitigation. Through these experiences, practical strategies have been developed to improve the effectiveness of field visits, including preparing in advance by gathering background information, asking targeted questions to clarify management concerns, and bringing appropriate identification guides and educational resources. Maintaining detailed records of site conditions, recommendations provided, and producer goals supports program documentation and future educational programming. Follow-up communication with producers helps ensure recommendations are implemented correctly and provides opportunities to evaluate outcomes. For early-career Extension agents, structured field visit preparation, careful documentation, and consistent follow-up can significantly enhance program effectiveness while strengthening Extension’s connection to the communities it serves.
Authors: Ashley Stonecipher
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Ashley Stonecipher Agriculture and Food Systems Agent, University of Florida, Florida, 32708