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FARMERS LEARN TO LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA AT FARM PROGRESS SHOW
#AgChat Community on Twitter gives farmers a voice, builds connections across agriculture
#AgChat Community on Twitter gives farmers a voice, builds connections across agriculture
LEBANON, Ind. – (August 28, 2009) - The latest innovation on display at the 2009 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, next week may not be a new tractor or biotech trait, but rather a Twitter community for agriculture known as #AgChat.
This weekly moderated conversation for people in the business of raising food, feed, fuel and fiber recently caught the eye of national news organizations such as CNN, which plugged #AgChat in its July “Twittering from the Tractor” report on the growing popularity of online social networks on farms.
“#AgChat gives farmers a stronger voice and leverages the power of the agricultural community,” notes Michele Payn-Knoper, Certified Speaking Professional and founder of #AgChat. “We see upwards of 1,000 “tweets” during our two hour discussion every Tuesday night, cementing this tool as an important venue for sharing views and ideas on current food and farm topics, from antibiotic use to mainstream media misinformation about agriculture.”
On Tuesday, September 1, Farm Progress attendees can learn more about this social media tool at two #AgChat events:
| • | Tweetup: A networking and #AgChat demonstration for those in agriculture who are a part of Twitter, or want to see it in action. From 3-5 p.m., in the Country Financial tent, booth 749 on 7th Street, join Payn-Knoper and others in the #AgChat community, who will answer any questions you have. Refreshments will be served. | |
| • | #AgChat live: Join other farmers and agribusiness to participate in this fast-paced streaming “convo” on Twitter. Tweet and talk with several of the chat regulars, or just watch the community in action. Payn-Knoper will be moderating live from Farm Progress, 7-9 p.m., in the Decatur Conference Center & Hotel Illini Room. Bioenergy is the topic for the Sept. 1 chat. Other #AgChat participants will be joining in the streaming conversation from locations around the world. |
“Our goal is to pull back the curtain for the next wave of adopters of these tools, and to reveal both the simplicity and power of social media in communicating about agriculture. We want farmers to experience that special act of reaching out across the virtual fence to communicate not only with other farmers, but with moms, journalists and others who are interested in gaining a broader perspective on food and agriculture. It also gives us an opportunity to 'listen louder' to thought leaders and consumers about their food interests.”
Michele Payn-Knoper, principal of Cause Matters Corp., Lebanon, Ind., founded #AgChat in April 2009 as a part of her work to build stronger connections between the farm gate and consumer plate. She provides agricultural advocacy tools through keynotes, training programs, a blog and webinars that help address media misinformation and consumer pressures. For more information, visit www.mpk.info.
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| "Connect with Michele using Web 2.0 tools to follow her work" |
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