Here’s the deal: It ain’t 1940 and most people aren’t getting their milk from their own cows or even their neighbor’s cows. These days, consumers are buying their food from the grocery store and are wondering where in the heck the product originated. Not everyone lives in rural America and has the opportunity to meet a local farmer or visit a dairy farm.

Wegner annaliese
Annaliese Wegner
Dairy Producer / Ettrick, Wisconsin

Making matters worse, there is a lot of bad, false information circulating on the internet, and consumers are eating it up. It is important that we share the truth about our farming practices so agriculture can continue to move forward. The more farmers we can get on social media, the better!

Here are my top tips for sharing your story online:

1. Be yourself.

The easiest way to find your voice is to just be yourself. When I am writing, I do my best to write as if I am talking with a friend or family member. I’m not really a serious person, and I like to make jokes whenever possible. I think this makes a writer a more relatable, real person.

2. You don’t have to be an expert on everything.

There may come a time when someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, and that is okay. Be honest and do your best to point them in the right direction to a person or place where they might find the answer.

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3. Do what you can, when you can.

There are SO many social media channels – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and blogs. Maybe you will pick just one; maybe you will try them all! No matter what you do or how often you are able to share, you are making a difference.

4. Be positive.

There is going to come a time when someone makes a negative comment about you or agriculture, and it is going to tick you off, but you need to remain calm. Getting fired up, calling someone names or talking negative is not going to get your message across. It will only make that person angry, and they will not be receptive to what you have to say. You truly catch more flies with sugar.

5. Know who your audience is.

As a dairy farmer, your goal should be to share with your consumers. Don’t waste your time with vegan activists; they don’t buy dairy products and probably never will. Put your time and effort in with the folks who actually have an interest in what you do and where their food comes from.

Well, there you have it. What are you waiting for? Get online and share the latest farm happenings; you got this!  end mark

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Annaliese Wegner