Two approaches to providing information about beef cattle preconditioning to randomly selected farmers were compared in a study involving 12 small and part-time farmers in Madison County, North Carolina. Half the farmers received the information from an extension agent via face-to-face consultations, telephone conversations, and an educational meeting. The remaining six farmers received the information through a poster, audiocassette, and fact sheets that were all developed by the extension agent. The farmers receiving the information via face-to-face instruction produced an average of 33.8 calves on their farm in 1993, whereas the farmers receiving the information without face-to-face contact averaged 22 calves per farm. Pretests and posttests assessing the farmers' knowledge gains established that the farmers receiving face-to-face instruction experienced knowledge gains of .976 and the other group experienced knowledge gains of .213. It was emphasized, however, that the latter group had a higher beginning knowledge level. Of the six individual delivery methods studied, fact sheets and face-to-face contact were the most favored, whereas posters and meetings were the least favored. The audiocassette and telephone methods were seen as only marginally effective means of delivering extension education programs. (MN)