Raising the Barn

Effectively Engaging with Consumers with Elizabeth Wood from the SC Farm Bureau

Listen Later

Episode 6 | There are about as many different varieties of farms out there as there are varieties of tomatoes. Conventional, organic, post-organic, no-till, regenerative, hydroponic - shoppers are constantly consuming labels and messaging when it comes to food and other agriculture products without a clear understanding of what that means. So for the roughly 2 million farms in the US - there is a real need to tell your stories, but with that need comes the challenge of how to do so.

This is something that my guest on episode six of the Raising the Barn podcast is passionate about. Elizabeth Wood is the Director of Agricultural Literacy, Women and Youth Programs for the South Carolina Farm Bureau. In her role, she helps farmers enhance their skills to more effectively engage and educate consumers.

Some of the questions we chat about:

  • What are some common themes that she’s seen from farms who have been able to tell their stories in a meaningful way?
  • Social media is an amazing tool because it gives folks the power to tell their story and potentially reach hundreds or thousands of people. But with that wanted attention sometimes comes unwanted attention. What are some tips for farmers who want to have a meaningful engagement online when they have a growing fear of attracting negative attention on their accounts?
  • How can farmers share important information about farming practices without demonizing the other side?
  • One of the bigger initiatives of the SC Farm Bureau is your work in advocacy - through your support of local SC farmers and ranchers and your efforts positively impacting legislation here in SC. As someone who works in advocacy, from her perspective, what’s something that she wishes consumers knew or had a better understanding of when it comes to where their food comes from?
  • It is Women’s History Month and there are many articles about the unique advantages of women in business. What are some of the advantages or strengths that women in agribusiness bring to the table?
  • Here in SC about ~36% of producers are female, according to the USDA's 2017 Census of Agriculture. What are some of the initiatives that the SCFB Women’s Leadership Program is focusing on this year?
    • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Raising the BarnBy The Farmer's Feed