Women in Ag. The Promotion of Female Farmers through Social Media | Madalyn Thayer | TEDxBGSU

Key Concepts

• Agricultural Demographics: The small percentage of the US population involved in farming, particularly the low representation of women and young people.
• Social Media's Role in Agriculture: Using social media platforms to bridge the gap between agricultural producers and consumers.
• Entertainment, Encouragement, and Education: The three key factors for leveraging social media to promote agriculture.
• Misconceptions about Agriculture: Addressing the disparity and misunderstandings between those in the agricultural industry and those outside of it.
• Importance of Agricultural Literacy: The need for greater understanding of where food comes from and the processes involved in agriculture.

Agricultural Demographics and Personal Connection

The speaker, Maline, begins by highlighting the disconnect between her childhood perception of farming as ordinary and the reality that it's a unique and vital part of American life. She cites USDA data from 2022, stating that only 3.4 million people are farm workers and producers, which is less than 2% of the US population. Furthermore, only 36% of those are women (1.2 million), and only 9% are under 35 (306,000 or 0.09% of the total population). Maline identifies herself as a 19-year-old farmer with a bachelor's degree in communication, involved in raising calves and running a produce business (strawberries, sweet corn, chrysanthemums). She emphasizes her role as a bridge between the agricultural world and those outside of it, stemming from her experience in a non-agricultural high school environment.

The Future of Agriculture: Social Media as a Key Driver

Maline argues that social media, rather than just technology like self-driving tractors or AI, is a crucial element in the future of agriculture. She believes that social media can bridge the growing disparity between those in the agricultural industry and those outside of it, addressing misconceptions on both sides.

Three Key Factors: Entertainment, Encouragement, and Education

Maline outlines three key factors for effectively using social media to promote agriculture:

Entertainment

• Purpose: To initially engage and interest people in agriculture.
• Example: The Peterson Farm Bros, a group of brothers from Kansas, gained popularity in the early 2010s by creating parody videos related to farming, such as "Farming Style" (a parody of "Gangnam Style"), which garnered 18 million views.
• Impact: These videos sparked curiosity and awareness among viewers from urban areas, prompting them to consider the origins of their food and fiber. Comments on these videos included statements like "I'm from the city and this has made me think about where my food and fiber comes from."
• Personal Example: Maline shares her experience of creating shapes with mums (a heart and an OSU logo) which received high engagement on social media, demonstrating that simple, entertaining content can be effective.

Encouragement

• Purpose: To provide support and motivation for those both inside and outside the agricultural industry.
• Challenge: The speaker acknowledges the discouraging aspects of farming, such as the high costs of land, equipment, and repairs.
• Solution: Social media allows farmers to share their experiences, both positive and negative, demonstrating that while the industry is challenging, there is a place for everyone.
• Impact on Outsiders: Social media encourages people to engage in homesteading and grow their own food, starting with simple crops like tomatoes and lettuce and potentially expanding to raising chickens and selling eggs.
• Logical Connection: Encouragement builds upon the foundation of entertainment, inspiring people to take action and get involved.

Education

• Purpose: To correct misconceptions and provide accurate information about agriculture.
• Personal Anecdote: Maline recounts an experience in sixth grade where a peer incorrectly identified the utters and teeth of a cow as the same body part. This highlights the lack of basic agricultural knowledge among the general population.
• Challenge: The speaker notes that being a young woman can sometimes undermine credibility, emphasizing the importance of farmers of all backgrounds sharing their knowledge.
• Khloe Highleb's Perspective: Maline quotes Khloe Highleb, an agronomy and animal science major at OSU, who emphasizes that "education is the most important thing that we can do as farmers because people love to learn without being judged."
• Actionable Insight: Farmers should proactively share their knowledge and encourage questions, rather than waiting for people to seek out information on their own.
• Impact: Sharing information, even if it doesn't go viral, can still benefit those who are interested in learning.
• Logical Connection: Education builds upon entertainment and encouragement, providing the knowledge and understanding necessary for informed decision-making.

Why This Matters: The Importance of Agricultural Literacy

Maline emphasizes that everyone should care about agriculture because everyone eats. She argues that as society becomes increasingly disconnected from its agricultural roots, it's crucial to foster a better understanding of where our food comes from. Agriculture is the backbone of every society, and civilization cannot exist without it.

Local Farms to Follow

Maline provides a list of local farms to follow on social media:

• The Peterson Farm Bros (YouTube)
• MT Feed and Supply (Maline's farm)
• Two Girl Sweet Corn (sweet corn business in Finley)
• Lone Tree Farms (organic beef direct-to-consumer in Indiana)
• Farm with Zoe (grain farmer in central Ohio)

Conclusion

Social media has transformed the agricultural industry, and it's essential to stay informed. Whether by buying local produce or following farmers online, every piece of information gathered about agriculture benefits both producers and consumers, fostering a sense of fulfillment and connection to our food system.