IARN — Twenty-one Iowa soybean farmers have been selected to participate in the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Communications Squad.
They volunteer to communicate the importance of modern soybean production and agriculture to media, consumers, civic groups, and classrooms and help represent ISA at special events. Communications Squad participants meet five times throughout the year for comprehensive training sessions, industry updates and personal outreach projects.
Farmer participants are:
Aimee Bissell, Bedford
Klint Bissell, Bedford
Ethan Crow, Marshalltown
Marty Danzer, Carroll
Jeff Frank, Auburn
James Hepp, Rockwell City
Paige Hepp, Rockwell City
Morey Hill, Madrid
Jeff Jorgenson, Sidney
Rick Juchems, Plainfield
Kevin McGrain, Hornick
Randy Miller, Lacona
Pat Murken, Story City
Laura Myrtue, Smithland
Kristin Oberbroeckling, Garnavillo
Brent Renner, Klemme
Lori Ryner, Winterset
Pat Swanson, Ottumwa
Tarin Tiefenthaler, Carroll
Tom Vincent, Perry
Chuck White, Spencer
“Farmer communication is the most powerful way I can think of to connect with consumers about what farmers do,” says Murken, a second-year program participant. “The Communications Squad has helped me go beyond my comfort zone and become more familiar with social media and other technologies we can use to reach non-ag audiences.” Each participant chooses one of three areas of additional focus and training: social media, writing and spokesperson (media) opportunities. The group kicked off the program year in February and met for task force training days in March where they created communications projects to work on throughout the year. Additional training sessions will be held in June, July, and August.
Throughout the year, participants network with communications professionals and reporters and receive top-line industry updates from ISA staff. Outreach projects created by participants range from launching Instagram accounts and YouTube channels to authoring children’s books and hosting farm tours.
“Communication is a very positive thing for me and my farm,” added Murken, who started a YouTube channel after training sessions in March. “I enjoy hearing feedback from people in my community and sharing my farming story with younger audiences. It’s important for farmers to get in front of people and do these kinds of things.”
The Communications Squad also engages with staff and leadership of Landus Cooperative, Key Cooperative and Corteva.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
Photo courtesy of the Iowa Soybean Association
