Whenever I speak on agricultural advocacy, I always encourage cattle producers to choose a form of social media they feel comfortable with and use it as a platform to share their beef production story with consumers. Whether that’s 140 characters in a tweet on Twitter, a colorful photo on Instagram, a status update on Facebook, a beef recipe pinned on Pinterest, a video on YouTube, or a blog post welcoming folks into your life on the ranch, there are many ways to be an advocate online.

READ: Be an advocate not an activist

However, all too often folks tell me that the biggest obstacle they face in being a great advocate is the time to do so. To that, I encourage everyone to share the work of other bloggers. You don’t have to recreate the wheel to be a great advocate. I always appreciate when readers share my blogs on social media, and I encourage you to help spread the word of other bloggers who you enjoy reading, as well.

READ: More beef producers are advocating for their industry online.

The FarmOn Foundation recently recognized 13 advocates, bloggers and organizations who are “agricultural game changers in the 21st century.” Here is the list:

1. Sarah Schlutz, Nurse Loves Farmer
2. Temple Grandin
3. AgChat Foundation
4. Sarah Gayton, Farmers on Film
5. Peterson Farm Brothers
6. The Farmer’s Daughter USA
7. Andrew Campbell of #FARM365
8. Debbie Lyons-Blythe, Kids Cows and Grass
9. Anne Burkholder, Feed Yard Foodie
10. Janice Person, JanicePerson.com
11. Brian Scott, The Farmer’s Life
12. Rob Wallbridge, The Fanning Mill
13. Meaghan Thornhill, Modern Milk Maid

You can read more about each of these individuals and organizations here.

To that list of great ag advocates, I would add the National Beef Ambassadors and Team BEEF runners as well as bloggers like Carrie Mess for the Dairy Carrie blog, Ryan Goodman for the Agriculture Proud blog, Crystal Blin of the Crystal Cattle blog, Trent Loos of Loos Tales radio, Jenny Dewey Rohrich of the Prairie Californian, Katie Pinke of The Pinke Post blog, Troy and Stacy Hadrick of the Advocates for Agriculture blog, and Brandi Buzzard Frobose of The Buzzard's Beat blog.       

Photo Credit: Texas AgriLife Today

It’s so important to work on bridging the gap between producers and consumers, and I believe every rancher needs to carve out a little bit of time to promote beef, whether it’s on social media or in town with friends and neighbors.

READ: Advocate or perish

How do you promote the beef industry? In what ways do you advocate for your product and your way of life? Who are your favorite bloggers? Share your must-read writers in the comments section below.

The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of Beefmagazine.com or the Penton Farm Progress Group.

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