As a farmer, I struggle to embrace technology, especially in the social media arena. It seems foreign to me to be tweeting in the barn….in fact, it sounds a little obscene.
That being said, as a brand marketer for a full line of organic dairy products in New York, I was selected (probably because at 46 I am the youngest partner in the group) to learn and set up accounts for Twitter and Facebook. This was about 6 months ago.
Since then, I’m starting to get quite comfortable in this new electronic universe. I have recently discovered a discussion group about agriculture and food, or what I call Hashtag Church. Well, it’s kind of like church.
You show up on an appointed evening and time (usually 7 or 8 pm on a Monday or Tuesday evening), and find a place in a pew. Then, several hundred others come and a moderator begins the evening by throwing out a question.
In a two hour period, about 10 common questions are laid on the table and everyone begins to comment and discuss each topic. It can be very entertaining.
But it can also be like stepping into a lions den, or a death match octagon.
I have met farmers and ranchers from all over the country (and even some from foreign lands) during these sessions. There is typically an organic vs. conventional farming question, which is sure to stir the pot a little.
But last night, on a foray into #agchat or #ag4all (can’t remember which one…kind of a blur now) I was astonished at the lay of the battleground.
Entrails. Blood. Carcass parts. A field strewn with insults, arrogance, ignorance and down right assaulting behavior.
Not much gets accomplished during these convos (?), but one thing is certain….it’s really like a train wreck. You just can’t look away. And you can’t shut it off.
Sometimes is gets really, really nasty. One church member said “organic=elitist” which really got the room spinning. There is no love lost between organic foodies and conventional farmers….it’s not uncommon for a Nebraska wheat farmer to threaten a Boston foodie with his thrasher. Or worse, his three point hitch.
I guess you try to educate…some people ask legitimate questions and are truly curious to learn about farming and how their food is raised. Others, however, are there for the blood sport.
Either way, it is a new form of entertainment for me. When my wife walks by and sees the goings on, she just shakes her head and goes back to her knitting. “If that’s church,” she says, “they need a new Bible.”
March 16, 2010 at 3:14 pm |
“If that’s church,” she says, “they need a new Bible.”
you’re wife is wise! extremists of all kinds exist with all movements I find. the important thing is to stay open-minded: or else you become an extremist yourself (sometimes without knowing it).
Great article btw
March 16, 2010 at 6:18 pm |
What an entertaining way to sum it up! I guess we just need to stop and sing a few hymns along the way. *grin*
March 16, 2010 at 6:57 pm |
These are great place to answer questions, but not very good for having conversations. Both organic and conventional farmers are defending themselves and farming methods and each think they are right.
Catch a few farmers after these chats and visit with them then, some of us are very open to visiting about our farms and where the our respective industry is at.
@ksfarmboy
April 7, 2010 at 1:33 pm |
It’s really tough to have genuine conversation via twitter, to say the least! I can totally sense your frustration!
Please don’t let one church member ruin it for everyone else. That person’s opinion is not representative of all church goers. Just wanted to throw that out there!