This presentation was prepared for Oneida County, New York 4-H program and includes primarily screenshots of examples using social media platforms to be an advocate for the agriculture industry.

1. Using Social Media To Advocate
for Agriculture
4-H Workshop:
Oneida County, New York
April 6, 2013
By Cari B. Rincker, Esq.

2. Telling Our Story on Social Media
• Consumers want to hear the story of
agriculture and feel more connected to the
farm
• Urban (and rural) consumers are disconnected
from production agriculture
• Social media can be a great way to educate
consumers about the U.S. food production
system

3. Social Media Platforms
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Blogs
• Tumblr
• Linkedin
• YouTube
• Pinterist
• Instagram
• Four Square
• Google +
• Quora
Image from colipera.com

4. Social Media Platforms
• Each has its own “personality” and should be
used differently
– Not all social media platforms are created equal
– Find what works for you
– Pay attention to the culture of the social media
platform
• Can use some third party applications to
cross-populate posts

5. Facebook

6. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the
“Story” of Agriculture?

7. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the
“Story” of Agriculture?

8. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

9. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

10. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

11. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

12. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

13. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

14. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

15. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

16. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

17. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

18. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

19. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

20. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

21. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

22. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
Start a conversation

23. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
Post Pictures from an
Agriculture Conference

24. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

25. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

26. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?

27. Blogs
• Blogs are a great way to
“tell your story” about
agriculture, educate
your readers, or discuss
issues affecting
agriculture that interest
you
• Readers can “subscribe”
to your blog via RSS
Feeder

28. Blogs
• Most blog platforms
are free
– Blogger
– Wordpress
– TypePad
• Blogs have great
Search Engine
Optimization (“SEO”)

29. How Often Do I Blog?
There’s no “rule” here.
“Dead blogs” lose readers
so it is recommended to
blog enough to keep your
blog “alive” and current.
– Rule of Thumb: A few
times a month
– 1-3 times a week would
be recommended if you
want to build readership

30. What Do I Put On My Blog?
• Whatever you want!
– Pictures of your farm or your family working on
your farm
– Pictures of your favorite calves that you are selling
– Videos from YouTube
– Discuss fashion for the livestock producer
– Current events affecting farms
• Links to interesting news articles

31. www.kidscattle.com

32. www.causematters.com

33. Farmlifelove.com

34. Agtually.com

35. 2thebacon.com

36. Ohiofarmkid.blogspot.com

37. Plowingthroughlife.com

38. Farmerdansdaughter.com

39. 3kidsandlotsofpigs.com

40. www.hoosierfarmbabe.com

41. raybowman.wordpress.com

42. crystalcattle.blogspot.com

43. Udderside.blogspot.com

44. agricinema.wordpress.com

45. Peanutsdoann.blogspot.com

46. Buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com

47. Eatprayfarm.com

48. agonthefront.blogspot.com

49. Houseagbuilt.blogspot.com

50. Twitter
• Facebook is about “who you know” while
Twitter is about “who you want to know”
• Twitter is great conversation tool
• #hashtags make terms searchable
– Used to have a conversation #agchat #foodchat
#horsechat #ranchlife #localfood

52. @Replies is How People Talk To You

53. Tweets with #agchat Hashtag

54. Tweets with #foodchat Hashtag

55. Tweets with #urbanag Hashtag

56. Tweets with #haytalk Hashtag

57. Tumblr
• It’s a microblog
platform
• Best and quotes ,
short blogs and
photos

58. cari.rincker.tumblr.com
I mostly post selected
Photos from Instagram

59. Tumblr Blog from
Wellesley College

60. Great for showing
Off farm photos

61. Pinterist
• Pinterist is all about
pictures
• Great place for
finding and sharing
great farm photos

67. Instagram
• Great place to post
and filter pictures
• Can share photos on
Facebook, Tumblr,
Twitter and Flickr

68. Instagram

69. Instagram

70. Four Square
• Fun way to share your
location with your
friends
• Can share on Facebook
or Twitter
• Can add photos to your
farm page
• Make it “cool” to
check-in on your farm,
county fair, or
agriculture event

71. Four Square

72. Please Stay in Touch
• Send Me Snail Mail: 535 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor,
New York, NY 10017
• Call Me: (212) 427-2049 (office)
• Email Me: cari@rinckerlaw.com
• Visit My Website: www.rinckerlaw.com
• Read My Food & Ag Law Blog: www.rinckerlaw.com/blog
• Tweet Me: @CariRincker @RinckerLaw
• Facebook Me: www.facebook.com/rinckerlaw
• Link to Me: http://www.linkedin.com/in/caririncker
• Skype Me: Cari.Rincker