Rita Vander Kooi
Worthington, Minnesota
Facebook: SoSheMarriedAFarmer (17K followers)
How did you get started sharing your farming journey on social media?
I was inspired to start a blog when my oldest children were of preschool age. I have always loved to write, and having a blog was a great creative outlet. Having a Facebook presence helped to direct traffic to my weekly writing. Over the years, as people began to prefer to watch videos on social media rather than read on blogs, I have shifted my focus. I post daily to Facebook and often on Instagram. My best advice is to start posting regularly. It is hard to predict what will gain traction, so don’t overthink it.
How did you build such a strong following on your Facebook page?
God certainly had a role in my journey. Eight years ago, our 12-year-old was involved in an ATV accident and my following greatly increased as people from around the world joined to cheer Ava on and pray for her recovery.
What is the most popular post you've ever made?
My most popular post was after our corn silage run of 2022. We usually operate 24 hours a day, six days a week, and I provide lunch and supper. It is so busy! I made a video containing various photos and short videos of our corn, trucks, tractors and meals. To introduce the video, I wrote a long paragraph detailing why the fellowship of food brings farmers together. There is good reason we don't ask our employees to ‘pack a sandwich!’ This really brought back a lot of fond farm memories for so many followers.
Can you share an example of a rewarding experience you've had using social media to communicate about your life on the dairy farm?
Honestly, I have a lot of people stopping me in town to tell me how much they enjoy watching my videos and how much of a greater understanding they now have of agriculture. Those short conversations always fuel me to keep sharing the good story that we dairy farmers have to tell.
