Celebrating the AgChat Community

One year ago I was contemplating the idea of agriculture folks joining  a conversation on Twitter, similar to what I had seen in action on “#journchat.” I discussed the idea with some friends in the business, tried to evaluate how such a conversation could connect people around the food plate and wondered if it really was something ag people would “do.”  ‘No risk, no reward’ is a personal philosophy, so on April 6, 2009, I announced we were going to try out a moderated streaming conversation known as “#AgChat” on Twitter on April 7, 2009.

 

Milk Pongs, Family Farms & Politicians

Telling your story can happen through words, pictures, videos or text!

The National Agriculture Week celebration continues with great events across communities, large and small, in real life and the virtual world. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and even Linkedin have been filled with updates from people working to increase awareness of  American agriculture. The idea extravaganza at the Cause Matters Corp. fan page has brought people from across the country to the party; these are a few of my favorites s far  (we’re partying til Saturday at midnight).

 

National Ag Week Idea Extravaganza

There’s a collective sigh of relief in my office! It appears a party can be thrown on Facebook – and be a cool way of connecting people. I don’t know about you, but I’m always a little worried before a party. The same worries held true before I announced the National Agriculture Week Party on the Cause Matters Corp. Facebook fan page. What if no one showed up…or it was boring…or we ran out of ideas or…(yes, I worry too much). Well,  I’m pleased to report the party seems to hopping.  Check out just a few of the great ideas shared by people across the country…

 

Time for a Party

Join the National Ag Week Idea Extravaganza!

We’re having a party – and you are invited!  This party is going to be a bit different; it’s all about idea sharing and is happening virtually on Facebook at the Cause Matters Corp. fan page, so you’ll have to BYOB. What’s the occasion?  National Agriculture Week, of course!  What better time to connect the people raising food, feed, fuel and fiber?  And – you may just win a prize for the most creative idea or question…

Since most party invitations include all of the particulars, we’re making that attempt here. The best part? You don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home – and you can meet all sorts of interesting new people while learning from them. Here’s what you need to know.

 

Reflections in Your Thanksgiving Plate

As Americans sit down to the gluttonous feast known as Thanksgiving, I hope that you’ll reflect on your plate before it’s loaded with food.  Look closely and you may even see reflections of the faces behind your food.  The people engaged in the 1.5% of the U.S. population raising food deserve gratitude as we celebrate the heritage of our country. While most Americans have lost sight of our agrarian roots, I believe it’s only fitting to say thank you to each person who grows enough to feed 155 people.

 

Industrial Agriculture & Sustainability

“Industrial agriculture” and “factory farming” are terms used with increasing frequency, thanks to activists on a rampage to put food production in the worst light possible  to further their own agendas.  What is a factory farm?  How do you define one?  And, WHO is responsible for defining that? 

 

Death on a Farm Revisited

When I was a little girl growing up on a family dairy farm, I clearly remember the pain associated with the death of an animal.  I also remember seeing animals butchered and being “grossed out.”  However, I knew the animals we raised served a purpose greater than being my pet- to provide nourishment to humans.  That’s a perspective shared by most farm kids, but is missing from the 98.5% of people not directly involved in production agriculture.

 

Can You Feel the Heat?

Thermometers across North America descended to record lows over the last week. Yet if you were to believe the environmentalists, global warming is going to destroy the earth and food production is one of the leading contributions. The article, “As more eat meat, a bid to cut emissions” in NY Times is a great example of that scare.

 

Swaying Opinions in the 21st Century

Technology that increases productivity excites me, but I wasn’t one of the early adopters of social media.  Frankly, it seemed like a waste of time. However, when I saw a “movement” created online before the 2008 U.S. elections and learned that half of FaceBook users are older than college age, I decided social media was worth a second look.  Same goes with webinars; I’ve never been a huge fan, but have found the technology to be a great training tool to reach people across the world without requiring any of us the pain and cost of travel.  And, since piloting them in December, I’ve found webinars make even more sense when you need the users to be looking at a computer screen, such as training about social media.

 

Shrinking Brains and Milking Women

Perhaps I’ve become a bit too focused on the rhetoric against animal agriculture, but there’s been too much discussion lately not to share.  I’m hoping my friends from the grain side of the business are in the field – but if not, please send examples from those claiming you’re poisoning the world with GMOs, pesticides, etc. and I’ll gladly add your information to the mix.