Marketing is about telling a story and farmers have such a rich story to tell. Each episode explores the unique ways that folks across the Ag industry are marketing their businesses. From diversifying your farm, to agritourism, ag education, and perspectives from first-time farmers - I’m excited to share stories and advice from within the Ag community.
Abriana Johnson, founder of Black Unicorn Creative, merges her expertise in brand strategy with her love for horses to empower businesses and individuals alike. With a background in Animal Science and Health Sciences, she's not only a visionary in the equine and agricultural industries but also the creative force behind industry-transforming brands Cowgirl Camryn and Black In The Saddle. As a podcaster and speaker, Abriana champions diversity and creativity, crafting impactful narratives that connect and inspire.
Abriana joins the Raising the Barn Podcast to talk about the shifting narratives within the equine and agricultural industries and how she’s building a community of “Barnyard Besties.”
Some of the questions we chat about:
Mentioned in this Episode:
AbrianaJohnson.com
Cowgirl Camryn
Black In The Saddle
Abriana Johnson Instagram
Purchase the Cowgirl Camryn Books
Cowgirl Camryn Instagram
Black in the Saddle Instagram
High on the Hog: How African Cuisine Transformed America (Episode 4: Freedom)
I have yet to meet a farmer or rancher who isn’t looking for a better way to sell direct-to-consumer more successfully. Tiffany Rufus is trying to change that.
Tiffany is the Founder and CEO of Freedom Harvest, the first direct farm-to-consumer mobile app with a built in same day delivery solution. For busy consumers who depend on services like Instacart and DoorDash, this app can help make buying directly from small family farms easy and convenient. Tiffany joins the podcast to talk about how she’s working to address the twin challenges of declining family farms and the accessibility of fresh, healthy food.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Subscribe:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
Freedom Harvest Website
Freedom Harvest Instagram
Freedom Harvest TikTok
Freedom Harvest Facebook
Get Freedom Harvest in the Apple App Store
Get Freedom Harvest on Google Play
Episode 15 | Farmers are not just farmers. You’re also marketers, educators, and advocates for your small businesses and the industry as a whole. And as Ag experts, you have the ability to not only influence consumers and public policy, but also the companies who are supplying everything you need to run your business.
With over 20 years of experience, Ag Access, a research logistics company that specializes in the agriculture industry, has positioned themselves as the leading resource for reaching ag audiences through their 400,000 member research community. Colson Steber, Co-CEO of Ag Access joins the podcast to talk about the importance of farmers having a voice in the innovations coming to the Ag industry, the continued investment in Ag Tech, and what factors will impact the Ag industry in the near future.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Join the Ag Access Insights Community:
Ag Access is an invite-only market research insights community of professionals working in the agriculture industry. Members get access to a multitude of research opportunities including online surveys and discussions, in-person focus groups, phone interviews, and various other methods. By voicing your opinion and participating in a study, you’ll get cash rewards, gift cards, and gain industry influence from your opinions.
Join the Ag Access Community
Subscribe:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
Ag Access Website
Join the Ag Access Community
Connect with Colson Steber on LinkedIn
Ag Census: A Review of Insights and Gaps
USDA Broadband Report
Less than 11% of the food that we eat in South Carolina is grown in South Carolina.
Ben Boyles, Senior Agribusiness Extension Agent from Clemson Cooperative Extension, is working to change that. Ben joins the Raising the Barn podcast to talk about how he has worked to develop and implement programs aimed at strengthening South Carolina's agricultural economy and rural communities since 2007.
In 2019, Ben was named Director of Clemson Extension’s South Carolina New and Beginning Farmer Program where he works to enable new and beginning farmers to be successful, productive, and innovative members of their local agricultural community.
And he is also the founder of the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, so if you’re planning to take part in it this year, you know who to thank.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Subscribe:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
South Carolina Ag + Art Tour Website
South Carolina Ag + Art Tour Instagram
South Carolina Ag + Art Tour Facebook
York County Ag + Art Tour
Clemson Cooperative Extension
SC New and Beginning Farmer Program
Visit York County
Episode Sponsors:
Visit York County - The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is back in York County, SC! Join us for this FREE, family-friendly event—a self-guided tour showcasing 25 farms with artisans at every stop. Experience first-hand where your food comes from, witness and shop from artisans in action, enjoy local musicians, and learn about the importance of supporting our local farms! You don’t want to miss this unique event, so mark your calendars for June 8th-9th! Visit agandarttour.com/york to learn more.
Palm Pike Flower Farm was founded with the environment in mind. From the coastal palms of South Florida to the mountain pikes of the Appalachians and beyond, Tasha Trujillo and Jovany Rodriguez want to promote and protect a life of meaning outside the box. They started as beekeepers passionate about saving bees and have since branched out into growing cut flowers. Today, Tasha joins the podcast to talk about how they are growing sustainable flowers for people and pollinators in York, SC, their participation in the Ag + Art Tour, and how’s she’s built a platform online to tell their farm’s story.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Subscribe:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
Palm Pike Flower Farm Website
Palm Pike Flower Farm Instagram
Palm Pike Flower Farm in The New York Times
York County Ag + Art Tour
Visit York County
SC New and Beginning Farmer Program
Episode Sponsors:
Visit York County - The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is back in York County, SC! Join us for this FREE, family-friendly event—a self-guided tour showcasing 25 farms with artisans at every stop. Experience first-hand where your food comes from, witness and shop from artisans in action, enjoy local musicians, and learn about the importance of supporting our local farms! You don’t want to miss this unique event, so mark your calendars for June 8th-9th! Visit agandarttour.com/york to learn more.
Whether they are first-time farmers, or farmers continuing their family’s agribusiness legacy, the next generation of farmers and ranchers face a unique set of challenges. In South Carolina, one school is hoping to prepare high school students through hands on experiences across agriculture, land management, agribusiness, and forestry. The South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe is the first of its kind public, residential high school. Kinsley Miller, Director of Outreach, joins the podcast to talk about the opportunities offered through the school and how they are inspiring and preparing the next generation of young farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness leaders.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Mentioned in this episode:
https://delahowe.sc.gov/
https://delahowe.sc.gov/admissions
https://www.instagram.com/delahowe_/
https://delahowe.podbean.com/
https://www.agandarttour.com/york
https://www.visityorkcounty.com/
https://bit.ly/SCAPR
Episode Sponsors:
Visit York County - The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is back in York County, SC! Join us for this FREE, family-friendly event—a self-guided tour showcasing 25 farms with artisans at every stop. Experience first-hand where your food comes from, witness and shop from artisans in action, enjoy local musicians, and learn about the importance of supporting our local farms! You don’t want to miss this unique event, so mark your calendars for June 8th-9th! Visit agandarttour.com/york to learn more.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension - Annie’s Project is a nationwide program that aims to empower women in agriculture through risk management education. We welcome anyone supporting the Annie’s Project mission to participate. The next SC Annie's Project class is the summer retreat that will be held in Florence, SC. Over 3.5 days, participants will receive 18 hours of education on Financial, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing, and Production risk management. Participants can expect to learn from a diverse range of speakers, spend time networking, go on farm tours, and build confidence in the future of their operation. A 4-H Youth Development Camp is being offered simultaneously for participants with youth. Lodging is included in the $400 registration until May 14. Local lodgers and participants who register after May 14 are $175. Youth registration is $100 for the first youth and $50 for each additional youth registered. More information can be found at https://bit.ly/SCAPR
Sam Hall’s family has deep roots in York County Agriculture. His farm has been in their family for over 150 years and Bush-N-Vine Farm has been a staple of the community since 1979 when his father opened their first market at the farm. Since then, they’ve grown into multiple farm stands across the county, and attracted folks to their farm with their Farm Cafe, CSA, U-PICK, and other agritourism opportunities. Sam joins the podcast to talk about life on a multi-generational farm, their participation in the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, how they’re growing strawberries 40 weeks out of the year.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Subscribe:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Mentioned in this episode:
https://www.bushnvinefarm.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bushnvine/
https://www.agandarttour.com/york
https://www.visityorkcounty.com/
Episode Sponsors:
Visit York County - The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is back in York County, SC! Join us for this FREE, family-friendly event—a self-guided tour showcasing 25 farms with artisans at every stop. Experience first-hand where your food comes from, witness and shop from artisans in action, enjoy local musicians, and learn about the importance of supporting our local farms! You don’t want to miss this unique event, so mark your calendars for June 8th-9th! Visit agandarttour.com/york to learn more.
In Episode 10 of Raising the Barn, we’re talking with Brandon and Sarah Bowers of Bowers Farm in Pomeria, SC - a small town of about 150 people near Newberry. The farmland has been in Brandon’s family for over 75 years, and since 2014, they have strived to take care of the farm from soil up and help their community know where their food comes from and how its raised.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Subscribe:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Mentioned in this episode:
https://www.bowersfarmsc.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bowersfarmsc/
https://www.instagram.com/reluctantfarmerswife/
https://www.lakeshorefamilycampground.com/
https://scagritourism.org/
https://www.ermarketinggroup.com/
https://www.agandarttour.com
Episode Sponsors:
Visit York County - The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is back in York County, SC! Join us for this FREE, family-friendly event—a self-guided tour showcasing 25 farms with artisans at every stop. Experience first-hand where your food comes from, witness and shop from artisans in action, enjoy local musicians, and learn about the importance of supporting our local farms! You don’t want to miss this unique event, so mark your calendars for June 8th-9th! Visit agandarttour.com/york to learn more.
Spring is here - which means farmers across the country are about to open the doors to customers for the 2024 season.
Today on Raising the Barn, Bailey Edwards, Farm Manager at Cherry Place Farm in Rock Hill, SC joins the podcast to talk about how she’s preparing for the opening day at the farm and what should be on every farmer’s marketing check-list before welcoming their first customers of the season.
Some of the questions we chat about:
On Episode 8 of Raising the Barn, I’m really excited to be joined by the 2022 North Carolina Miss Agriculture Advocacy Ambassador, Miss Katie Haynes.
Katie is using her platform to advocate for the agriculture industry across North Carolina through her TikTok and Instagram accounts. And when she’s not promoting North Carolina Agriculture, she’s spending her time leading her non-profit Smiling While Sending Hope, working on her new photography business, and showing rabbits.
Some of the questions we chat about:
COVID-19 accelerated our adoption of the virtual world. Corporations shifted from in-person meetings and conferences to Zoom meetings and webinars. Consumers joined virtual happy hours, started to attend virtual concerts, and joined communities online and across social media.
Today’s Raising the Barn guest helped to usher in the world of Virtual Agritourism to the Agriculture and Food community of Vermont.
Sarah Audet is the Interim Executive Director at the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition and oversees the #Farm24VT event - a day-long social media celebration of agriculture, food, and dairy in Vermont.
Some of the questions we chat about:
There are about as many different varieties of farms out there as there are varieties of tomatoes. Conventional, organic, post-organic, no-till, regenerative, hydroponic - shoppers are constantly consuming labels and messaging when it comes to food and other agriculture products without a clear understanding of what that means. So for the roughly 2 million farms in the US - there is a real need to tell your stories, but with that need comes the challenge of how to do so.
This is something that my guest on episode six of the Raising the Barn podcast is passionate about. Elizabeth Wood is the Director of Agricultural Literacy, Women and Youth Programs for the South Carolina Farm Bureau. In her role, she helps farmers enhance their skills to more effectively engage and educate consumers.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Hannah Monroe joins episode five of the Raising the Barn podcast. Hannah is the owner and farmer of Kingdom Gardens in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Kingdom Gardens is a Certified SC Grown Christian family farm striving to responsibly steward the land while growing produce and raising livestock using no-spray and regenerative methods.
Hannah has found some interesting ways to reach new consumers through her Farm Club memberships, her new community composting program, and a focus on direct to consumer sales using Instagram. I’m really excited for her to share some insights with y’all as to how she’s growing her Ag business in York County, SC.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Cari Rincker, Esq. joins episode four of the Raising the Barn podcast. We know that the vast majority of farmers wear a lot of hats, but I’m not sure many wear as many as Cari. Farmer, Ag and Family Lawyer, Professor, Podcaster, Triathlete, 4H Judge, Author, and recently, new Mother are just a few of the titles that Cari holds.
Cari is the owner of Rincker Law and Cari’s Farm in Champaign, Il. During our conversation, we talk about farm law, how she’s balancing life on and off the farm, and her advice for the next generation of farmers.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Tiayonna Liska joins episode three of the Raising the Barn Podcast. She is the owner of Carolina Garden Coaching in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tiayonna and I are old childhood friends and we reconnected a few weeks ago and discovered that we both want to help people know their food.
During our conversation, Tiayonna shares her passion for inspiring people to take control of their green space and her perspective on urban gardening, food deserts, and Ag education in schools.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Brett and McKenzie Flashnick join episode two of the Raising the Barn podcast. They are owners of the The FARM 1780, a family farm focused on growing local, seasonal fruits and vegetables, raising heritage breed livestock, and connecting the community in Lexington, South Carolina. Before they were farmers, they had careers in advertising and journalism and since opening last Fall, they’ve come up with some very creative ways to introduce Agritourism and bring folks from across SC out to their farm.
During our conversation, Brett and McKenzie share the keys to their successful email marketing strategy and the foundations for how they’ve built their marketing plan.
For farmers interested in cultivating your marketing skills or exploring Agritourism, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Some of the questions we chat about:
In the first episode of the Raising the Barn podcast, I’m talking with Kevin and Shelby Lussier, owners of Hawthorne Creek Creamery in Florida. But they are not only accomplished young farmers and entrepreneurs, they also happen to be my cousins. Kevin grew up on a 150 cow farm in Hawthorne, Florida with his parents Matt and Linda and sister Samantha. After college, Kevin and his wife Shelby, moved back to the family farm to continue the tradition of milking cows - and in doing so, were inspired to diversify the family farm business by starting a creamery and making artisan cheese.
Some of the questions we chat about:
Learn more:
www.thefarmersfeed.com
www.hawthornecreekcreamery.com