The average American is at least three generations removed from the farm. As more and more people move away from farm and ranch work, the gap between farmers and consumers expands and the need for a general understanding of agriculture becomes even more pressing.
It is time for those of us with a connection to agriculture to refine our efforts to bridge this information gap. If you are like me, you know this effort is extremely important but are unsure where to begin. You are also passionate about agriculture and care about how it is perceived by the public, but feel that sharing the story of America’s farmers and ranchers can sometimes be daunting.
Reconnecting consumers with the origins of their food is no small task. It is a huge undertaking that takes time and involves many different methods, steps and complexities. In my career, I have learned that to explain farmers’ priorities, the techniques of modern agriculture or why farmers do what they do, it’s most effective to start small. Below are three ways to do just that.
Simple conversations are an effective way to share agriculture’s story. Investing a small amount of time, striving for productive interactions and providing solid examples can go a long way.