AFACT’s Farmer Voices Program
Effectively Trains Producers to Inform Consumers
Helping
farmers connect from the heart with the consumer – that is the goal of the
Farmer Voices program hosted by American Farmers for the Advancement and
Conservation of Technology (AFACT). The
first phase of Farmer Voices was held July 20-22, 2010, in Owatonna, MN.
“Farmers
have the knowledge and a great story to tell,” said Monty Miller, co-leader of
the Farmer Voices training. “Our program provides the skills, practice and
introspection to effectively communicate in both public speaking forums and by
using social media tools.”
Agriculturists
from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas gathered
for the three day personal development and intensive presentation training
program. Participants learned how to harness eye contact, vocal and body energy,
as well as other communication tools to be most effective while presenting. The
most unique part of the training was that each member of the group could
practice these tools and receive immediate constructive feedback from
professional coaches.
“It
pushed me to operate outside of my comfort zone,” said Mike Bodenhausen,
participant and President of the Kansas Dairy Association.
“You learn the most when you get to that point.”
Besides
developing the skills to effectively present, attendees also developed their own
message based on their personal values. Everyone started this process with an
introspection exercise to create a coat of arms, similar to a mission statement.
“Recognizing
our passion and shared values is exactly what the consumer needs to see,” said
Carrol Campbell, participant, and crop and livestock farmer.
The
next phase of the Farmer Voices program will include placement of trained
speakers in front of consumer audiences. “Consumers
want to know that food is produced by people who care about the same things they
do – family, food and the faith that our animals, land and water will be
preserved for future generations,” said Daphne Holterman, Wisconsin dairy
farmer.
The
Farmer Voices communications workshop will be offered again in November.
To learn more about AFACT and the Farmer Voices program, please visit our
website at www.itisafact.org
or find our page on Facebook at AFACT.
You can also follow itisafact on
Twitter.
AFACT is willing to invest in farmers, and the impact they can have on
consumers and the entire food chain. The group
seeks
to educate, equip and empower all participants in the food chain to understand
the benefits of technology and encourage consumers to demand access to high
quality, affordable food with a minimal impact on the environment.
###