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Agricultural Advocacy

Let's Talk "Ag"vocacy!

Confession – “ag”vocacy is not a word that you will find in a dictionary.  So what exactly are we talking about?  Well…we’re talking about
 
Advocating (show public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy) for Agriculture (the science of farming, including cultivation of the soil and the rearing of animals to provide food and other products).
 
So what does “ag”vocacy look like?  Let’s break it down (yes, this is a throwback to school where you used who, what, where, when, why and how to tell a story…but stick with us).
 
Who (should “ag”vocate)?
Everyone who is involved in agriculture.  Each person who is involved in agriculture has an important story to tell!!

What (should you be “ag”vocating about)?
Your agriculture story – your day to day involvement in agriculture and what that looks like.  Is it taking care of cattle?  Making hay?  Growing fruits or vegetables?  Milking cows?  Shearing sheep?  Beekeeping?  Take a picture!  Share about what you do, how you do it and why!  Consumers want to hear about how their food is grown, and they are much more likely to listen to personal stories.

Where (should you “ag”vocating)?
Where ever you are comfortable.  Are you active on social media?  Share away!  Or be willing to have conversations where ever you happen to be – at the grocery store, school, church, a baseball game, with friends or people you don’t know,…you get the idea! 

When (should you “ag”vocate)?
If someone asks you about agriculture this is a great time to share about what, how and why you do what you do.  You can also share when you hear someone who has a misunderstanding about agriculture, if you are comfortable doing so.

Why (should you “ag”vocate)?
Because consumers want to know how their food is grown, and they will connect better with local people telling personal stories.  Agriculture is a vital industry, and we need ALL types of agriculture as we continue to try to feed the world, so any time you can share about this great industry in a positive way that does not tear down any segment of the industry, it is a win for all of us!

How (should you “ag”vocate)?
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Pictures are a great way to share about agriculture.  You don’t need a fancy camera or a ton of classes, just take pictures of your daily life in agriculture and share them on social media!  Don’t use social media?  Be open to having conversations about agriculture as opportunities arise!
 
Tips and Suggestions
  • Answer questions openly and honestly – agriculture is not always perfect, but we work each and every day to continue to improve and care for the land and animals in our care to the best of our ability.
  • Share about what you do, but always try to do so in a way that does not make another production method or aspect of agriculture look bad.Consumers have varying preferences and we need ALL types of agriculture to meet the demands of a growing population – our goal should be supporting agriculture as whole.
  • Realize that not everyone will agree with how or what you do, and that is okay.
 
Agriculture is incredibly important, and in a world where consumers are more and more concerned about how their food is produced, it is incredibly important for us all to tell our agriculture story!
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