Gilmer Dairy Farm News
Ag Challenges Teaches Farmers To Tell Their Story
(original story written by Jeff Helms for ALFA Farmers News, May 22, 2008)HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Farmers from Alabama and Tennessee had a
chance to hear what average citizens think about agriculture
and practice telling their stories to the media during a
training session May 20-21 in Huntsville.
Seventeen farmers from the two states gathered in the Rocket
City for the workshop, which is part of a national campaign
called Ag Challenges Initiative coordinated by the American
Farm Bureau Federation. The program is meant to address
public concerns about animal welfare issues through
research, spokesperson training and outreach.
Lamar County dairy farmer Will Gilmer said the training made
him more aware of the need for farmers to talk about what
they do to protect the health of their livestock so
consumers can enjoy a safe, wholesome product.
“It helped us realize how much we need to educate the
general public,” said Gilmer, who serves as state Young
Farmers chairman for the Alabama Farmers Federation, a
member of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “It made me
realize how much of a disconnect there is between many
consumers and today’s agricultural practices. It really
drives home our need to get out there and educate the
public.”
Other Alabama participants included Federation State Women’s
Committee Chairman Delle Bean of Calhoun County, Jennifer
Cruise of Morgan County, Annie Dee of Pickens County, Dorman
Grace of Walker County, Martha Jordan of Monroe County, Clay
Kennamer of Jackson County, Bill Lipscomb of Autauga County
and Jeff Maze of Blount County. The group included poultry,
beef cattle, horse and dairy cattle producers.
The two-day training included an overview of public opinion
research conducted by Osborn & Barr Communications for the
Farm Bureau as well as mock television and radio interviews.
The highlight for the participants, however, was a chance to
hear local residents discuss animal agriculture issues in a
focus group setting.
“We take for granted the high level of care we provide our
animals because we are on the farm 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, but the average person on the street doesn’t
understand what we do,” Jordan said.
Research conducted as part of the Ag Challenges Initiative
shows most consumers trust farmers to raise healthy animals
and food, but many also have been influenced by negative
campaigns waged by well-funded activist groups. When farmers
counter outrageous claims with real-life stories about how
they care for their animals, however, most consumers find
farmers to be credible sources of information. The Ag
Challenges Initiative is aimed at equipping farmers to be
self-advocates by providing training, resources and
opportunities to share their message.
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