Ag Producers: Have a Conversation

Ag Producers: Have a Conversation

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report.

Today we are continuing our conversation with Michele Payn-Knoper, Certified Speaking Professional of Cause Matters Corporation. Yesterday we discussed the importance of farmers and ranchers taking the responsibility to tell their personal story to consumers and other influencer groups.

If you have had the opportunity to hear Payn-Knoper speak, read her blogs, Facebook postings or tweets you know she is passionate about agriculture and having an on-going conversation with consumers about food and where it comes from.

Once farmers and ranchers are willing to tell their story, she encourages them to engage in two-way conversations with the public.

Payn-Knoper: “I like to say you earn the right to people’s heads through their hearts. And you really can connect with their ears through their emotions. Hot buttons are a simple illustration of what someone is passionate about, what excites them, what really interests them. Because the reality is we spend too much time talking about agriculture and not enough time focusing on the other person on the other side of the table. Just having a conversation on terms they can understand about what they care about.”

Payn-Knoper says to think in terms of topics, traditions or issues that would interest that other person. Ask questions and actively listen. The goal is to have a conversation and hopefully you gain as much from the other person as they do from you.

To learn more about agricultural advocacy, go to Payn-Knoper’s website at causematters.com

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.