outreach and education efforts and our wide audiences. Across the entire lawn and garden spectrum,
we have a potential audience that encompasses a majority of residents in our states along with an
employee and volunteer network of educators that numbers in the thousands. It is clear that our reach
can often exceed our grasp in terms of gathering accurate impact data for consumer horticulture efforts.
While the data collection struggle is real, it is necessary to move forward with impact reporting and
assessment systems that are effective at a state and local level. These very issues are the current task
underway in developing outcome indicators in Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) topic areas in
Tennessee Extension. Workgroups of state and area ANR specialists together with county agents are
developing outcome indicators that will form the basis for all local and aggregated statewide reporting.
This case study will focus on our efforts in Tennessee to develop realistic and robust measures that work
across our entire system. Main points of discussion and emphasis will be balancing assessments that can
be feasibly integrated into the wide range of local activities and used by varied personnel while being
appropriate for statewide reporting; showing the public value of Extension consumer horticulture
programs; and examples of effective outcome measurement.
See more of: Workshop