Content about Social Media

Genetically modified organism (GMO) conversations are always roiling around the internet. Managing public relations for any company involved in GMOs requires being calm, firm, organized, and well connected to the conversations.

Mr. Josh Flint, Associate Director of Communications, Talent Acquisition, and Retention, The Maschhoffs, shares thoughts on what the public perceives about agriculture. Josh states that agriculture is at a defining moment and right now that moment is being defined by others outside of agriculture. With that opening, Josh shares how social media tools are easy to use and provides details on the resources any operation can pick up and use right away.

Leah Beyer, Global Digital Communications Director, Elanco, shares stories that highlight how (mis)information may spread on social media and, sometimes, the spread is done by the very people who don't want it to spread.

Leah makes a point with recent events that sometimes it is best to just not say anything on social media in order to keep an issue from amplifying.

This Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit event brought together a great mix of people to help connect, educate, and protect agriculture, farming, and food.

• Agenda: http://agtoday.us/aaa-2016-summit-agenda
• Speakers: http://agtoday.us/aaa-2016-summit-speakers

Reaching Out: Enlisting Allies - Mia Roberts, Vice President Strategic Operations, American Egg Board; Lou Nave, Executive Director, Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee; Jeff Kayser, Director of Production, Suidae Health and Production Swine Veterinary Clinic

NOTE: This presentation is available upon request by sending an email to info@AnimalAgAlliance.org

Consumer Outreach: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Andrew Campbell, Founder, Fresh Air Media and dairy farmer, Bellson Farms.

Learn how one farmer decided to tackle the continuous marketing hype ("all natural", "sustainable", "gluten-free", etc) through a personal journey to share his farm everyday on social media.

Ms. Janet Riley, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Member Services at North American Meat Institute, provides thoughts on media coverage and conversations and how reporting can be skewed against agriculture.

Janet suggests that reporting by main stream media has been constrained by funding cutbacks over the last 20 years and experienced reporters with a deep understanding of agriculture are no longer around.

David Wescott, Wescott Strategic Communications LLC, talks about getting to know you customer a little bit better. Through a project called "Radical Transparency", one dozen on line moms, who were not in agriculture, were invited to visit farms and participate in the nitty gritty of pork production.

Mr. Wescott shares how the project developed and what happened over the course of the Farm to Pork visits.

Non Farm Moms Visit Farms To Learn David Wescott, Wescott Strategic Communications LLC; Ilina Ewen, blogger, Dirt & Noise; and Lisa Frame, blogger, A Daily Pinch, offer thoughts on how to tell a story and connect with consumers about food, agriculture, and perceptions. As consumers, not farmers, Lisa Frame and Ilina Ewen share their experiences in learning about the food systems connections to farms. Ms. Ewen and Ms. Frame address questions from the audience of farmers and ranchers.

The AgChat Foundation's 2014 Cultivate & Connect conference was held in Austin, TX, August 21 and 22, with over 140 farmers, ranchers, and ag communications professionals attending from the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The resounding theme of the event was to learn more about how digital and social media can assist with cultivating open-minded conversation with consumers while connecting them to agriculture's story.

Yes, farmers are using social media. How and why will vary. Look at national surveys for some direction: via Pew Research Center, 2014 info: 12 trends shaping digital news.

Instagram Story Telling Amy Hays points out that Instagram is more than just a social picture sharing tool. From the 2014 National eXtension Conference March 24 - 28, 2014, Sacramento, California, USA.