The best award I’ve ever received was the «Friend of Agriculture» from Kansas Farm Bureau. Being considered a friend people whom I admire, especially since I’m not a farmer, is something I want to encourage you to do, also. Here are some suggestions:
1. Get to know one, or more, personally.
Farmers and ranchers are super friendly, but a bit shy. Mostly it’s because they work from sunup to sundown, so they don’t have extra time for socializing and, like most of us, they hang around other people like them. If you don’t know how to meet them, check with your County Farm Bureau, which is in every state in the nation.
2. Learn about who they are and what they do.
Here are great conversation starters: “So, tell me, what do you enjoy about farming?” “Why is soil health so important?” “How many generations has your family been farming?” “Why do you prefer that breed of cattle, hogs, chicken or goat?” Be warned, if you ask any of these questions, the might not stop talking.
3. Buy things directly from them.
Although you technically buy from a farmer every time you buy food, there’s a new way of purchasing directly from a farm or ranch. On the producer’s side, this is called “‘direct to consumer sales.” On the consumer side, we know it as, “Hey, I’m buying my meat, veggies, dairy, etc., from (name of the farmer or rancher) and I love knowing who is growing my food and how they do it!” If you need a place to find one near you, visit www.shopkansas farms.com and look for them there.
4. Invite them to speak to your group, interview them on your podcast, TV, radio, or write a blog about them.
Although shy, once you ask those questions I listed above, you will find just how passionate farmers and ranchers are about what they do. Are you a teacher? There is an abundance of Ag in the Classroom resources for you.
5. Put a sign up celebrating them.
There are signs you can get that read, “One Kansas Farmer Feeds 155 People + You.” You can purchase them from Kansas Agri-Women. I’ll bet you can find a farmer or rancher more than happy to let you put it up wherever people can see it.
6. Ask them to serve on a board of directors.
Farmers are the most varied experts in multiple disciplines that I’ve ever known. The nature of farming requires knowing global economies, meteorology, finances, real estate, business development, strategic planning, marketing, engineering, mechanics, construction and, you name it, they are good at it.
7. Ask them to give you a tour or ride along with them.
Farmers are proud of what they do and they love showing people their lifestyle. Be careful, you might get a bit of barnyard on your boots and that’s OK, it’s good for you.
8. Say nice things about them both to them and to your friends.
Consumer confidence in farmers is at an all-time high, but farmers don’t always hear that so send them an email, drop them a handwritten note or tell them in person how much you admire them. You see, they have some pretty serious enemies who mean them harm and want to end their way of life, and sometimes that’s all that farmers hear; the wild-eyed fanatics who have it out for them. Have you heard of agroterrorism? Yep, some are so malicious they will destroy crops, machinery and buildings.
9. Learn to grow things yourself.
In writing about farmers and ranchers, I have learned this; they love to grow things. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a plant or animal, they love helping things grow. As I’ve learned to garden the last few years and even raise some backyard chickens, I’ve come to respect farmers even more for how difficult it is to keep things alive and producing well. Except for weeds. I hate weeds and so do they. In fact, ask them about the No. 1 enemy of a farmer who grows crops, the pigweed. One plant can produce anywhere from 500,000 to 700,000 seeds that can take over a field, choking out their crops.
10. Follow them on social media.
Some like Facebook, some like Instagram, while others prefer Twitter, but most use one, if not all, of those platforms. There’s no better way to know what they do, every day, than by following them. Please interact with them, they love it when people engage with them. Every once in a while, thank them. You’ll make their day.
We can all be a “Friend of Agriculture.” Do one, or more, of these 10 things and you’ll fall in love with them just like I have.
Rick McNary is a leader in bringing people together to build community and reduce hunger in sustainable ways. This article originally appeared in the Kansas Living Magazine.
(Courtesy photo)
