Early in 1996, farmers, educators, and businessmen from around the Norfolk area formed the Ag Internet Club. With support from the Nebraska Ag IMPACT project and Madison County Extension Educator Chris Carlson, they began meeting to educate themselves and the area’s agricultural community on the use and value of the internet. At meetings and workshops, members teach computer communications techniques, share favorite web sites, and seek the expertise of local computer industry representatives.
Club member Linda Renner says they are working to have "the internet available at a reasonable cost to rural people." In its first year, the group encouraged local internet service providers to reach into the small towns of Madison County. Group members also recruited fellow townspeople to reach the minimum customer numbers the service providers required. By having local access to the internet, the group believes small towns will not be working at a disadvantage to urban areas or large agri-business. They also hope internet access will improve the rural quality of life by opening up new opportunities for rural residents.
In the fall of 1996 the group initiated the state’s first Ag Internet conference, cosponsored by Madison County Extension and Northeast Community College. The conference covered the use of listserves, e-mail, computer equipment, and how to access sustainable agriculture resources on the internet. The group cosponsored two similar conferences in 1997. These conferences attracted over 100 people.
In 1997, the club bought a laptop computer and modem for teaching internet use. Club member Diane Becker has used the laptop to hold well-attended demonstrations at several county fairs. She has also gone from teaching occasional classes to nearly full-time internet training through the local community college. Becker says she worked with all ages: "a 72-year-old farmer to a 10-year-old, and everything in between."
Other group members have also made good use of their internet training. One took a web-publishing course, which led to being hired by the college to teach computer classes. Another launched her desktop publishing business by designing and publishing brochures for the club’s first public workshop.
The club decided not to renew as an IMPACT group in 1998, but will continue to meet. Group members plan to cosponsor an Agricultural Technology Information day in the spring of 1998.
Contact: Diane Becker, Norfolk, 402-454-3568