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Enjoying a Glass of Milk in Niagara

By admin, April 16, 2013
Mary Ann Peart, one of the organizers for the Canadian Holstein Convention.

Mary Ann Peart, one of the organizers for the Canadian Holstein Convention.

by Jeanine Moyer

Last week, I was an AdFarmer seeing spots – black and white that is! That’s because I was attending the Canadian Holstein Convention in Niagara, Ontario. The convention hosted approximately 600 dairy farmers and industry representatives who gathered to keep in touch with the Canadian dairy industry, discuss issues and acknowledge progressive Holstein breeders.

From April 10-13 convention attendees participated in a cattle sale, showmanship competition, farm tours, 130th annual general meeting and master breeder gala. AdFarm has been involved with the convention since organization of the event started more than three years ago when we designed the convention logo.

On Friday, I used my Adfarm Corporate Social Responsibility time – a program that encourages employees to volunteer their time and provides them with a number of work hours they can spend volunteering. It’s a great way to get AdFarmers volunteering and help us give even more to our communities and the agricultural industry. Friday was an “I love my job day.” I was (and still am!) an AdFarmer immersed in an important part of our agricultural industry – and I enjoyed a lot of milk and cheese.

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Feel Agriculture’s Passion on Ag Day

By Kelly Rivard, March 19, 2013

Today is Agriculture Day here in the U.S. While we’re always excited to see any sort of day set aside to celebrate the business we love, the wonderful truth is that at AdFarm, every day is Ag Day.

We AdFarmers are lucky – the nature of our agency is that we get to spend every single day immersed in agriculture. Whether we’re working on advocacy projects, drafting press releases, writing copy for print ads, or designing websites, it all ties back to one common theme: building a stronger agriculture, in North American and worldwide. We consider this an honor.

When asked why they’re passionate about agriculture, AdFarmers said:

“How can someone put in words why they love someone or something? That’s what my passion for agriculture is: a love. I love getting my hands dirty and my boots muddy; the challenges of farming; the endless exploration into the science; the amazing people who labor in the field; the smells of dirt, pollination and harvest. When you meet someone else in agriculture, you bond through your mutual love. And knowing that you’re feeding the world and the people around you is an added bonus.” – Heather Koehler, AdFarmer working from Nebraska.

“The people, values, innovation and wide open opportunity in this often neglected industry keep me passionate about agriculture.” – Wendy Gold, Calgary

“I am passionate about ag because its real and genuine – about real and genuine people. They not only work hard because it is their livelihood, but because they are doing something for the greater good – providing wholesome, nutritious food options for a growing world. My family farm has been around for five generations. I’m not there every day, but not a day goes by that I don’t think about it, feel something toward it. I am proud to say I am a piece of American Agriculture.” – Tiffany Bronson, Kansas City

“Ag – it’s always been a part of who I am.” – Ashley Boydstun, Kansas City

Perhaps the best statement of AdFarm’s passion for agriculture comes from one of AdFarm’s founders, Kim McConnell, in this video:

How are you celebrating agriculture on today, Ag Day? Join us in sharing with the world why you love this wonderful industry!

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When Bacon and Facebook Collide, Magic Happens

By Kelly Rivard, March 12, 2013

You can buy bacon-themed anything: pillows, bandages, shower curtains, candy, clothing, and much, much more. We recently worked on a project with our client, the Ohio Pork Producers Council (OPPC), to harness this bacon-love and grow a social media community.

We set up a photo contest called “For the Love of Bacon” on OPPC’s Facebook fan page.

The For the Love of Bacon photo contest was definitely a fun contest from a creative standpoint.

The For the Love of Bacon photo contest was definitely a fun contest from a creative standpoint.

Entrants submitted pictures that showed how deep their love of “meat candy” really is.

The entries showcased some VERY profound bacon love!

The entries showcased some VERY profound and creative bacon love!

One winner was randomly selected from the entrants to win the Grand Prize, a year’s supply of bacon. There was also a People’s Choice prize (a month’s supply of bacon), awarded to the entry with the most votes. The contest ran from January 14 to February 15.

Thanks to highly-targeted Facebook ads, television spots in the Cleveland area during the Super Bowl, well-planned and implemented content, and a natural virality thanks to the subject matter, the contest spread like wildfire.

Facebook Ad: Push Button, Receive Bacon

Facebook Ad: Push Button, Receive Bacon

Facebook Ad: Success Kid

Facebook Ad: Success Kid

Facebook Ad: Love Bacon?

Facebook Ad: Love Bacon?

The Ohio Hog Farmers page jumped from just over 11,000 Likes to just over 40,000 Likes, with new fans across a variety of demographics in their target market.

New followers of the Ohio Hog Farmers page came because of bacon, and now have the opportunity to learn about the family farmers who produce pork in Ohio. Good use of varied content and best practices of posting will help retain this new, larger fan base. Where this contest leaves off, good community management will take over.

To view the entries and winners of this contest, you can check out Ohio Hog Farmers on Facebook. Like the page for great recipes and valuable insights into pork production, and stay tuned for more AdFarmer adventures!

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Celebrating Agriculture’s Future During FFA Week

By Kelly Rivard, February 21, 2013

Back in October, I got to live out a dream by attending the FFA National Convention, where fellow AdFarmers, Josh Lysne, Libby Hall, and I taught delegates from several states how to strategically use social media for agriculture advocacy.

Standing in that room, you could feel the energy and enthusiasm radiating from these FFA members. Ranging in age from 16 to 22, it was obvious that these young people are the future of agriculture.

As an FFA alum, I was bursting with pride, excitement, and passion. Even now, months later, I feed off the extra energy boost I got from learning alongside and growing with those students that day!

Me, in all my awkward high school glory.

Me, in all my awkward high school glory.

Well, this week is National FFA Week, and the U.S. agriculture industry’s social media outlets are pretty well dominated by blue and gold. It serves as a great reminder of the integrity that this program fosters in tomorrow’s agricultural leaders. (more…)

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Combines for Cures is Rolling …

By admin, February 18, 2013

… with a brand spanking new Man Van and a successful pilot year behind us.

It’s easy to get up in the morning and go to the office with a smile on your face when you work with folks who change lives in a positive way. And the Combines for Cures™ (C4C) partners are doing just that by targeting farmers, ranchers and other rural based men to get checked for prostate cancer.

Combines for Cures Banner

Combines for Cures Banner

You know farmers are the last people to go to the doctor for a checkup. So the Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC) in Calgary will take the ‘doctor’ to them – where they live and in style, with a new Man Van™ (a mobile blood clinic) purchased for rural Alberta with money raised there through cash, grain and the in-kind contributions of agri-partners, farmers, ranchers, media and small town, main street businesses.

The Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre is a state of the art facility that includes research, surgery, pre- and post-patient care, education and counseling. An incredible facility with top notch medical, management and volunteer teams who work with patients, the PCC approached AdFarm to work with them on C4C because we understand farmers, agriculture and main street rural Alberta.

PCC, along with Agrium, Monsanto, Bayer Crop Science, Western Feedlots Ltd, Richardson Pioneer and other partners, are rolling into their second year of operation after a very successful pilot year. Testing events are scheduling quickly for 2013 and PCC is delighted with the increase in the number of men being tested.

AdFarm is a key partner at the Combines for Cures boardroom table, committing its brand and marketing communications expertise to this initiative. We have developed the brand, worked on the medical video targeted to rural urologists, implemented media relations, helped organize special events, created support materials – ads, posters, brochures, retail kits, website notices, pledges, sponsorships, fact sheets and other material. It’s been a rewarding experience being part of the Combines for Cures Team and we look forward to another stellar year ahead.

For 2013 more testing events are planned and the committee will continue to enhance education and awareness. The team will continue targeting new sponsors, increasing grain and individual donations and expanding Combines for Cures into the southern part of the province. AdFarm will be an integral part of that. And that’s what gets us up in the morning with that smile on our faces – worthy causes, fine clients and an engaged AdFarm team.

By Wendy Gold

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