Justin Stewart
Mesa, Arizona
Arizona Dairy Company
Instagram: 15,300 followers
Facebook: @arizonadairyco 1,860 followers
How did you get started sharing your farming journey on social media?
Stewart: I got started because my family wanted me to communicate with them and show what we do on the dairy day-to-day, along with pictures of our cows and heifers we take on the road to local 4-H shows and national cow shows. I quickly realized I wanted the account to allow us to communicate with the public and showcase how transparent we are as dairy farmers. I wanted it to be a fun and easy way to help educate anyone interested.
How did you build such a strong following on your Instagram/Facebook page?
Stewart: I started with just a few photos of what I thought was interesting to me. Then I went on to have some of my popular friends post information about our dairy farm and what we do on their social media. I also have been active in our local dairy council and participated in some high-publicity events. I also gave tours of the dairy, and I gained followers through all that activity. I believe we need to encourage all dairy producers and farmers to tell their story, be transparent to the public and reach out to their community.
On which social media platform are you most active?
Stewart: Instagram and Facebook
What is the most popular post you’ve ever made?
Stewart: I posted a video of my granddaughter being friendly, petting and hugging one of our junior 2-year-old cows. The post currently has had 549,937 views and 59 comments. It demonstrates that our cows are very calm and relaxed around people, and we as humans can actually enjoy being up close and personal with our animals. As dairy farmers, we like this.
Can you share an example of a rewarding experience you’ve had using social media to communicate about your life on the dairy farm?
Stewart: Helping educate and inform the public and my fellow dairy farmers how we do things here in Arizona on the dairy. We need the public to understand we care for our animals and our employees. The dairy products and byproducts the cows produce are very important to our everyday life. We want them all to be very well cared for, healthy and safe. It’s rewarding for people to comment about our cows and say, “They all look so happy,” and “They’re loving life.”
PHOTOS: Courtesy Images.
