This morning I am in California, preparing for a presentation about agriculture stakeholders coming together to create positive messaging, to help tell the farmers stories to consumers like you. I don’t talk much about my professional work on this blog. But at times my work life and personal life very much intersect. We live on the prairie, in the heartland of America’s agriculture, where food is grown that feeds the world. Farming values are values we want instilled in our children. They are also values that shine through in my company’s work every day. I work in agriculture marketing communications, working to help create messaging and outreach on behalf of agribusinesses. You cannot help but notice in the mainstream media that farmers are getting beat up right now. And once in awhile I am going to have to address it on this blog because it is what is top of mind. Someone needs to counteract the Michael Pollan and Oprah’s of the world and tell the story of where our food comes from so consumers can thank a farmer rather than throw a farmer under a bus.
The above picture is food that I have been eating lately…as I count Weight Watcher points to lose those last pregnancy pounds. It is nutritious. It is full of fiber. It is healthy. Some of it is processed in some form. It is not local, except for the milk that comes from Fargo, ND, 180 miles from our home. However it is possible because of American farmers. Farmers, who need to increase food production to feed a growing world, not decrease it to go backwards in their production because of the opinions of a few who do understand the realities of conventional production agriculture. Please do this for today: thank a farmer for your food. Thank a farmer for working to improve their practices so they can create a better world for your children. And if you have a platform to do so, tell the farmers stories, of conservation, of caring for their animals, of using advanced technology in their seeding and planting, of how technology is benefiting agriculture and our world, of their struggles to make ends meet but their commitment to feeding the world.
And now I will end my personal soap box…for today.
Well said! There are few things I miss about working for soybeans but the opportunity to be a voice for farmers and educate is the thing that I miss. Thanks for the great post!
Katie –
Great comments. As it has been said, “Don’t complain about the farmers with your mouth full of food!”
Marsha