Agriculture needs anyone who has ever been touched by food production to become Agvocates. So basically if you eat you’re automatically included. Ag needs people to start talking and asking questions with an Open Mind, we also need those questions received and answered with an Open Mind. There is a great story behind how food reaches the plate that is not being told enough. Sure we have some in Agriculture starting to speak up and the people enjoying food asking questions however there needs to be one prerequisite to these conversations; an Open Mind.
You might ask; why keep repeating the need for an Open Mind? Too often I have seen the questions being asked of agriculture based on documentaries or books. The thing we need to remember is first and foremost the books and movies need to sell and to sell can stretch the truth and sensationalize it to the point it becomes a seller. Do not get me wrong there are great starting points for questions and conversations that come from these works. However the questions need thought of with an Open Mind because the answer may be different than what one wants to hear and contradict the book or movie.
On the other side of the coin farmers, ranchers and others in the food chain need to welcome the questions and answer them with Open Minds. Too often I see or hear things become polarized from the word go because we in Agriculture have grown weary of people and groups like Oprah, Michael Pollan and HSUS thought of as experts on farming and animal care. Oprah is a television host, and Pollan is a journalist and author who do raise good points however must also add the fluff so their products sell. HSUS is a nonprofit business that derives a major part of their income from donations and to get those donations needs to sensationalize their story and move people to send money. We in Agriculture need to have Open Minds when we answer questions formed from the works of those who can often stretch the truth. As agriculturists we should embrace the fact that those who buy the food that comes from our toils are interested in how and why we do what we do.
So why does Agriculture need YOU?
Because I firmly believe “Conversations are King!” It takes CONVERSATIONS to build RELATIONSHIPS that lead to TRUST (each belief can still differ). If farmers and ranchers along with those enjoying the end products of their toil can build relationships based on Conversations many questions will naturally be answered. Those in Agriculture and those buying the products that result from agriculture need to remember to not be preachy and seem better than the other. I have been guilty of preaching before and try to catch myself before doing it. If there is one thing I have learned you truly learn who is listening and who your audience is with engaging conversations not just preaching. I can’t remember how many times I have had conversations with people I have no Idea that are following me through various social platforms or by actively searching out a conversation to join.
Do I think only “farmers or ranchers” can tell “Ag’s” story?
NO, we need everyone to tell the great story of Agriculture.
Do I think only “farmers or ranchers” can tell “farmers or ranchers” individual stories?
YES, just like only someone like a Mom can tell a Mom’s story or only a Doctor can tell a Doctor’s story because they are individual stories.
Collectively the individual stories we tell will shape Agriculture’s story.
The work that is behind putting food on our plates makes a great story to tell and WE ALL need to remember WE need ALL the help WE can get to tell it.
We need you to tell your story because we all eat and are touched in some way by agriculture everyday.
Welcome to “TEAM AG”!
Related Articles
- Putting the “culture” in Agriculture (raylindairy.wordpress.com)
Agriculture needs YOU to tell your story!
Ray-Lin Dairy 
“I personally have been guilty of preaching before and try to catch myself before doing it.”
– Boy can I relate to this. I think it’s because we (agvocates) are so passionate. We really want people to understand how much we live, breathe and eat agriculture. Unfortunately, we will bring an end to conversation by being less than “open minded.” What happens when conversations end? Celebrities and journalists take the show. Great post and thank you for the reminder that we ALL should be a part of “Team Ag!”
Posted by Jodi | April 4, 2011, 11:56 AMYes! It is only by having the extremes that we can generate the discussions that lead to the productive middle ground.
On a tangent, I love how blogs, and social networks like twitter are enabling farmers to be more active agvocates. When I was a child living on a farm we pretty much relied on breed associations and the local paper to be our voices. I love reconnecting with the farming community online.
WEdB Lake
Posted by WEdB Lake | April 4, 2011, 12:42 PMI started blogging and tweet to agvocate thinking I was going to be changing minds. Well, that’s been part of it, but I have been learning a ton myself about types of ag I’m not familar with and how it’s all connected.
Posted by The Farmer's Life | April 4, 2011, 3:03 PMGreat post! Anyone would eats is a part of agriculture. I hope we as farmers and ranchers will welcome consumers with open arms!
crystalcattle.com
Posted by Crystal.Cattle | April 5, 2011, 7:41 AMGreat blog you have going here. I will have to link to your site. I’m starting to tell our farms individual story on our website http://www.boonfarms.com. I haven’t made any posts yet, but will be soon. We’re talking about posting pictures of the newborn calves so people can name them haha. C
Posted by Brad | April 9, 2011, 8:37 AM