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In October, I had the opportunity to participate in Farm Bureau’s Women’s Communication Boot Camp, held at the American Farm Bureau offices in Washington, D.C. The camp was great! Not only did I make friends from across the country, that will last a lifetime, I also learned a lot about ‘agvocating’ effectively.

Consumers are savvier than ever; they want to know where their food is coming from, and if it was responsibly sourced. Not only that, but they also are more concerned about the nutritional value as well. However, the average person is three generations removed from the farm. As farmers, it’s our job to talk about what we do, and to help answer any questions they may have. Knowing how and when to start those conversations can be the tricky part, and communications boot camp focused on exactly that!

We spent four days focusing on public speaking, media interviews and curating our messaging. The training classes were very interactive, and we even staged several mock interviews. The training was intense; however, it was worth all the work! When advocating for agriculture there are so many aspects to consider. From adjusting your “farmer lingo” to answering the questions that are a bit more difficult, without becoming emotionally charged. At boot camp, we worked through all the difficult subjects of advocating. I’ve learned so much and now feel more confident to go out and advocate for agriculture. Which ultimately, is what the boot camp is all about, advocating.

I would recommend anyone who is interested in learning more about public relations and advocating for agriculture to apply for the 2020 Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Boot Camp. It was a wonderful experience and I learned so much from it.

About the boot camp

The intensive four-day course comprises hands-on sessions related to public speaking, working with the media and messaging. 

The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, in partnership with AFBF staff, hosts and provides training for the Women’s Communications Boot Camp. This is the 14th year of the program, which has 210 graduates and is open to all women involved in Farm Bureau. An application process is used to select the participants.

2020 Session Options

Summer Session: June 9-12, 2020
Application Period: Feb.4 – March 28, 2020

Apply

Fall Session: Oct. 13-16, 2020
Application Period: July 1-Aug. 15, 2020

Follow the Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program on Facebook for program updates.

Online Extra

Farm Bureau recognizes Women’s Communications Boot Camp graduates