Farmers & Ranchers Speaking Up For Themselves
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Farmers and ranchers are learning that their most effective messenger for their business and life style is themselves. They are starting to figure out that the communications process that can help their cause of having necessary public support for what they need to operate their businesses starts with them building bridges with others.
The challenges of anti-agricultural interests poisoning the well of public opinion can only be addressed with proactive, relationship building to help non-farmers and ranchers understand basic principles of what agricultural producers do, why the activities are carried out the way they are and what the consequences will be if changes that undermine production capabilities are implemented to take away the ability to produce.
A special workshop to encourage more farmers and ranchers to step forward and engage in the process was part of the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in San Antonio, Texas. Those who have started to make their mark in being spokespersons for their businesses took center stage to encourage others to join them in this important work. http://fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=newsroom.newsfocus&year=2009&file=nr0112d.html
Similar efforts have been implemented in becoming part of the public understanding of ranching carried out on lands managed by federal agencies.
Not all differences of opinions and concerns of rational-thinking individuals will be alleviated with this interchange, involving farm and ranch families speaking out to topics of interest or conflict of ideals, but having established the communications connection, meaningful exchanges can identify common ground to build possible solutions.
The activity of reaching out to make connections is also a beneficial exercise, teaching important skill sets that will well serve agricultural leaders and individuals. Once you’ve stretched out of your normal daily environment, to accomplish this critical work, you’ll find that going back to merely wishing things were different won’t be a mindset you’ll be able to accept.
Making a difference requires a commitment to exert the influence you can and to make the most of every opportunity you will be presented with.
Farmers and ranchers are learning that their most effective messenger for their business and life style is themselves. They are starting to figure out that the communications process that can help their cause of having necessary public support for what they need to operate their businesses starts with them building bridges with others.
The challenges of anti-agricultural interests poisoning the well of public opinion can only be addressed with proactive, relationship building to help non-farmers and ranchers understand basic principles of what agricultural producers do, why the activities are carried out the way they are and what the consequences will be if changes that undermine production capabilities are implemented to take away the ability to produce.
A special workshop to encourage more farmers and ranchers to step forward and engage in the process was part of the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in San Antonio, Texas. Those who have started to make their mark in being spokespersons for their businesses took center stage to encourage others to join them in this important work. http://fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=newsroom.newsfocus&year=2009&file=nr0112d.html
Similar efforts have been implemented in becoming part of the public understanding of ranching carried out on lands managed by federal agencies.
Not all differences of opinions and concerns of rational-thinking individuals will be alleviated with this interchange, involving farm and ranch families speaking out to topics of interest or conflict of ideals, but having established the communications connection, meaningful exchanges can identify common ground to build possible solutions.
The activity of reaching out to make connections is also a beneficial exercise, teaching important skill sets that will well serve agricultural leaders and individuals. Once you’ve stretched out of your normal daily environment, to accomplish this critical work, you’ll find that going back to merely wishing things were different won’t be a mindset you’ll be able to accept.
Making a difference requires a commitment to exert the influence you can and to make the most of every opportunity you will be presented with.
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