“Who Is That Farmer in the Mirror?” is just one workshop topic of the inaugural Farming Leaders Conference set for March 19 at Blue Ridge Community College’s Plecker Workforce Center.
Sponsored by Farm Credit of the Virginias, the Farm Credit Knowledge Center, Rockingham County Farm Bureau and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers, the workshop is geared toward helping farmers communicate with consumers about agriculture.
During “Who Is That Farmer in the Mirror?” Virginia Tech dairy science professor Dr. Alex White will help participants understand their own communication styles and identify the communication styles of others in order to more effectively share information. In “Speaking to Consumers Like a Customer,” White and Jesse Martin, producer of On the Farm Radio, will work to broaden the understanding of what consumers are looking for and how farm families are meeting those needs.
Del. Steve Landes, R-Verona, will give a keynote address on “Celebrating Virginia Agriculture.” Matt Lohr, director of the Farm Credit Knowledge Center, will talk about communicating with government officials. Lohr is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Members of the VFBF communications staff will give a presentation on communicating effectively with the media.
Lauren Arbogast, author of the blog Paint the Town Ag(riculture), will talk about how to incorporate social media into a farm’s communication strategy.
Registration is $15, and space is limited. Register online at farmingleaders.com.
