Creative Conversations: The Un-Meeting as an Approach to Agricultural Extension Communication
The agricultural industry increasingly faces complex challenges that require diverse stakeholder input, and traditional meeting approaches often limit engagement and perpetuate top-down dynamics that can inhibit effective problem-solving. This article explores the ``un-meeting'' format as an alternative, highlighting its ability to foster inclusive, participant-driven discussions that encourage collaborative brainstorming and actionable outcomes. Based on our experience with a statewide agriculture summit, we discuss the principles underlying un-meetings, the facilitation process, and the practical implications for Extension professionals. Recommendations include the importance of knowledgeable facilitators, a large team for effective management, and limiting session cycles to maintain focus and depth in discussions.
Authors
- Jessica R. Spence (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3789-3477)
- Jean A. Parrella (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9765-6708)
- Eric K. Kaufman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8009-0066)
- Crystal Tyler-Mackey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9623-8723)
- Megan Seibel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1287-316X)
- Benjamin B. Grove
- Olamide Olowoyo
- Stephanie Zhu
- Michael Gutter
- Sonika Poudel
- Bolane Adebayo
Institutions
- Virginia Tech (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Extension
- Published
- 2026-10-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.66752/1077-5315.5750
- Primary Topic
- Conferences and Exhibitions Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00