Raising the Barn

Ali Cox is an agriculture and food ingredient marketing visionary, an Olympic Silver Medalist in rowing, and founder of Noble West, an award-winning marketing consultancy that specializes in the entire agricultural ecosystem. From fresh produce and nuts to dairy and agTech, Noble West works in all aspects of agriculture. Ali is not only a changemaker but is considered the industry leader when it comes to strategic and creative services including brand identity, campaign development, content planning, media planning, production and more.A fifth-generation farmer who is a fierce advocate for farmers, Ali's blend of a deep personal connection to the land and business acumen has made her a highly sought after strategist by her clients. With an eye on the future of farming and the climate crisis, Ali regularly consults with her clients on upcycling, regenerative water use, and hydroponic and organic farming practices. Ali joins Raising the Barn to talk about the challenges affecting the future of farming, whose responsibility it is to tell Ag stories, and what it was like to compete on Team USA.----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 18 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 7th-8th! This ad is brought to you by Visit York County.

Matthew Gusmer's family has been growing apples, pressing cider, and making their now-famous cider doughnuts at Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery in York, South Carolina since 1987. What started as a family pastime using a hand-crank cider press has grown into one of the York County area's most beloved fall destinations.Today, Matthew joins the podcast to share what it's like to carry forward a multigenerational business rooted in tradition while embracing the growing world of agritourism. We talk about hard cider, U-pick operations, seasonal marketing challenges, and what it means to build an experience—not just a farm stand—that keeps people coming back year after year.We also dive into Windy Hill's participation in the York County Ag + Art Tour—how it brings new visitors to the orchard, builds community connection, and gives folks a behind-the-scenes look at how apples and cider come to life in the South Carolina Upstate.This episode is brought to by Visit York County.

Jene Therrell oversees Marketing, CSA, and Wholesale at Springs Farm in Fort Mill, South Carolina and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, specializing in marketing strategies, the benefits of Community Supported Agriculture, supporting local farmers, and mastering the art of social media. In today's episode, we'll dive into Jene's journey in agricultural marketing, uncover the secrets behind successful CSA programs, and explore the innovative marketing techniques she uses to promote Springs Farm.

It is our first episode of 2025 and I'm so excited to be back in the podcast studio aka my sunroom. This episode is going to be a little different than our usual sit-down interview. With the new year comes new opportunities so I asked a few past guests of Raising the Barn who are experts in Ag marketing and market research to share their predictions for the Ag industry in 2025. In today's episode you'll hear from Abriana Johnson and Colson Steber. Abriana, 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. Colson is the Co-CEO of Ag Access.  With over 20 years of experience, Ag Access has positioned themselves as the leading resource for reaching Ag audiences through their 400,000 market research insights community of professionals working in the agriculture industry. And I'll also be sharing some predictions of my own. I have to agree with Colson when he said “2025 is going to be farming's best year ever.” With that, I'm excited to bring you new interviews this year. Some of the topics that I have planned include: How to expand into new markets and retailers How to build relationships with local chefs to get your products into their restaurant kitchens  How to have a more successful farmer's market season How to attract and retain Gen Z customers  Influencer marketing across the Ag industry If there are any topics you'd like to see if you're interested in being featured in an upcoming episode, reach out to me info@thefarmersfeed.com. Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Mentioned in this episode: AbrianaJohnson.com Abriana Johnson Instagram Ag-Access.com The Farmer's Feed Events Calendar

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: What was your inspiration behind Black Unicorn Creative? Where did you see a need for your expertise in the equine and agricultural industries? What are some of the challenges that your clients are experiencing and how are y'all overcoming them together? Can you tell us about Cowgirl Camryn - where did this idea originate? What was that process of writing a children's book like?  You've coined the term “Barnyard Besties” and worked to create a community of brand champions. What benefits can you see from building the  Barnyard Besties community? What's one thing that you wished consumers knew about either the equine or ag industry as a whole?  What is Black in the Saddle? How do you balance Cowgirl Camryn and Black in the Saddle and your brand strategy business?  You also have an ever-growing portfolio of speaking engagements and podcast interviews. What advice would you give to someone who is interested in finding guest speaker opportunities or even opportunities with the media.  How do you measure success for yourself and/or your clients? How do you stay on top of the latest trends? What's on your marketing plan for 2024?  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: Tell us a little bit about your connection to Ag You founded the Freedom Harvest app which you describe as “think Instacart for Farms and Ranches.” How did this app come about and how does it work for both farmers and consumers? What are some of the unique challenges of family owned farms vs large scale operations?  What do you think are some of the biggest barriers to consumers shopping at local farms and ranches?    Can you share about how you're using storytelling as a pillar of your marketing strategy? What have you learned from some of your recent viral videos on TikTok and Instagram?  What do you think small family farms need most to be able to thrive? What's one thing you'd like consumers to know about farming and agriculture?  What's your wish for the farming industry in the next 5 years?  What's on the Freedom Harvest Marketing Plan for 2024? 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: What is the history of Ag Access and what kind of work do y'all do?  For the Ag folks in your 400,000+ member community, what does that audience look like?  There's been a significant increase in investment in Ag Tech in the last few years. Can you share some of the trends that you're seeing across the industry and/or where you see innovation making a big impact on Ag?  Can you talk about the influence that folks in your community have and why it's so important?  The USDA still estimates that around 22.3 percent of Americans in rural communities lack access to broadband coverage. How do y'all engage the spectrum of farmers who have varying access? What role can Ag Access play in helping the industry bring in young and new producers and help them be successful?  What do you see as having the most impact on the farming industry in the next 5-10 years?  Is there anything that you've learned as  a market research leader that small Ag businesses can apply to their own marketing strategy?  For any listeners who might be interested in becoming an Ag Access Member, are y'all still recruiting for your insights community? What's the process like to sign up?   What's on the Ag Access Marketing Plan for 2024? 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: What are some of the resources that farmers have through Clemson Extension? Let's talk about the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour that is underway across our state. For those not familiar with the event - the tour is the largest free farm and art tour in the nation. Can you give a quick overview of what it has to offer farmers, artisans, and visitors?  How has it evolved since 2012? What has been your biggest challenge when marketing Ag + Art and how did y'all overcome it?  What advice would you give to farmers and artisans to get the most out of the opportunity to participate?  The Ag + Art Tour is an incredible opportunity to introduce folks across our state to the people who feed us. What's one thing that you would like consumers to take away from the tour? From your perspective, what are some of the biggest challenges that young and new farmers are facing today? What can we do to support them?  What's on the Clemson Extension Marketing Plan for 2024?  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: Can you tell us a little bit about your connection to agriculture and your farm in York, SC? What brought you from Florida to South Carolina? As a first-time farmer, what resources did you find useful as you started Palm Pike? Did you face any challenges in marketing your farm and how did you overcome them?  You have a significant following across your Instagram and TikTok accounts. Where do your ideas for your videos come from? How has your social media presence helped you to grow your business and bring you new opportunities offline?  What made you want to be a part of the SC Ag + Art Tour this year and what activities are you offering?  Can you share some best practices for folks who will be visiting the farm? How can they enjoy the space you've created while also making an effort to protect the habitat for the pollinators and your flowers/herbs?  What's one thing that you wish consumers knew about flower farming and/or beekeeping? What does being authentic mean to you as a farmer?  You were featured in a NYTimes article back in 2022 about the rising cost of farmland, which is having a direct effect on farmers. How did this opportunity come about?  Did that article have any impacts on your business?  Do you have advice for other farms who are looking to gain attention from the media - both local and national? What's on the Palm Pike Flower Farm Marketing Plan for 2024?   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: What is the history behind the SC Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe? What makes the curriculum unique?  What are some of those challenges that they're preparing students to take on and how are they doing so? What kind of higher education and/or careers are their students going into after graduation? What does the next generation needs most to be successful in agribusiness?  Do y'all offer experiences for non-residential students? Are there things that the general public (adults and children) can take part in?   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: What advice does he have for young farmers who are making the transition to working full time on their family's farm, inheriting their farm and/or starting their own agribusiness?  What are some of the differentiators of Bush-N-Vine? How do they set themselves apart from other farms in our area? What different activities are they offering at the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour this year?  What advice does he have for other farmers participating in Ag + Art as to how to make it a successful experience for visitors and for their farm?  What advice can he share for visitors as they prepare to spend time at Bush-N-Vine during Ag + Art? How has agritourism impacted the other areas of their business?  What is one thing he wishes more consumers knew about farming or running an Ag business like Bush-N-Vine?  What does the preservation of our farmland and continued investment in rural communities mean to Sam?  What's on the Bush-N-Vine Marketing Plan for 2024?  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: How did they know it was time to go from DIYing their marketing strategy and enlist the help of a marketing agency?  What were some of their biggest takeaways from working with local marketing agency, EMILY: Revolutionary Marketing? What advice would they give to farmers who are thinking about hiring some outside marketing help? What are the core pillars that they came up with for Bowers Farm and why they're important?  How are they using those pillars to tell the story of Bowers Farm? On their farm, they raise a variety of livestock, but they also have several other offerings and experiences ranging from Farm Stays, to Farm Camp and Farm Tours. How did they go about adding agritourism to their farm? Has agritourism impacted other areas of their business? In addition to their farm's instagram page, Sarah has built her own personal brand under the account, Reluctant Farmer's Wife. How is the content that she shares on this page different from the content they share on their farm account? Where do she get inspiration from for her content? Something we hear from farmers is that it's hard to find time to create content for social media. What advice do they have for those folks who want to grow their online presence, but don't feel like they have enough hours in the day?  What's on the Bowers Farm marketing plan for 2024?  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: In the most recent US Census of Agriculture, the average age of the American farmer is 57.5 years old and Young Farmers under 35 only make up 9% of the farming population. Did she always know that she wanted to continue her family's legacy? At what point did she make the decision to come back to Cherry Place Farm after college? While some farms operate year-round and other farms operate seasonally – in a place like South Carolina, the “season” is fairly long. Cherry Place Farms is open from ~mid-April right up to Christmas. Aside from the obvious farm tasks - planning, prepping, and planting, from the business perspective, what does planning for the next year look like? Given her background in PR - what advice does she have for farmers when it comes to working with local media or other businesses to promote their business?  Did she leverage any new marketing techniques to drive business for the new Cherry Place Farm offerings in 2023 (Farm Yoga, U-Pick Flowers, Cut Flowers, Greenhouse with “pot up your own hanging baskets” and wreath making at Christmas)? Looking back on 2023 - is there anything that she would have done differently when it comes to marketing the farm?  What is her favorite TikTok or Instagram trend at the moment? How is she using social media to drive customers and serve her local community?  Does she have a favorite campaign or aspect to her business that she's worked on?  What's on the Cherry Place Farm Marketing Plan for 2024? 

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: What is the Miss Agriculture pageant and what made her want to participate? What are some of the roles and responsibilities that come with her newly crowned titles, 2022 North Carolina Miss Agriculture Advocacy Ambassador and North Carolina People's Choice Miss United States Agriculture? As a member of Gen-Z, she's turned to TikTok to help share her story and elevate her platform as NC Miss Agriculture Advocacy Ambassador. Many farmers are looking to get started on TikTok. What advice does she have for those farmers on what young audiences might be interested in? Where does she get her ideas from on what to post on TikTok? Katie also runs the non-profit, Smiling While Sending Hope. How is she using social media to help tell the story of her non-profit? As a member of 4-H, what are some of her favorite things about the 4-H program and how does it help prepare the next generation of farmers and Ag folks?

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: What is #Farm24VT and what was the inspiration behind the event? What are some of the benefits for farmers and agribusiness owners who are joining in on the event? Agritourism is great for Agribusiness because it may bring new consumers out to the farm (either virtually or in-person) who may not have been a customer before. But then the challenge or opportunity becomes, how do folks keep their attention. And how can farmers turn those participants or attendees into a repeat customer or visitor? Is the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition doing anything different to market #Farm24VT this year? What is she looking forward to most with #Farm24VT this May? As a woman in Agribusiness - what would she say is one of the advantages that women have in the Ag industry?

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: What are some common themes that she's seen from farms who have been able to tell their stories in a meaningful way? Social media is an amazing tool because it gives folks the power to tell their story and potentially reach hundreds or thousands of people. But with that wanted attention sometimes comes unwanted attention. What are some tips for farmers who want to have a meaningful engagement online when they have a growing fear of attracting negative attention on their accounts? How can farmers share important information about farming practices without demonizing the other side? One of the bigger initiatives of the SC Farm Bureau is your work in advocacy - through your support of local SC farmers and ranchers and your efforts positively impacting legislation here in SC. As someone who works in advocacy, from her perspective, what's something that she wishes consumers knew or had a better understanding of when it comes to where their food comes from? It is Women's History Month and there are many articles about the unique advantages of women in business. What are some of the advantages or strengths that women in agribusiness bring to the table? Here in SC about ~36% of producers are female, according to the USDA's 2017 Census of Agriculture. What are some of the initiatives that the SCFB Women's Leadership Program is focusing on this year?

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: What are some of the values that drive her mission for Kingdom Gardens? What does that business model look like for her Farm Club Membership and how has that helped bring new customers to Kingdom Gardens? Where did the idea for her community composting program come from? What other effects has she noticed from implementing the composting program? What are some of her challenges with using social media to tell the story for her farm? How is she finding ways to overcome those challenges? She recently announced a shift to move towards direct-to-consumer sales on the farm instead of selling through her local farmer's market. What was the main driver in making this decision? Will she be introducing any new marketing strategies to help bring folks out to her farm stand?

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: When it comes to legally protecting an Ag business, what are some common mistakes that she sees folks making? What are some frequently asked legal questions that she receives from farmers? How does she balance life on and off the farm? With Cari's Farm, she's selling beef, goat meat, and eggs. How is she marketing her business? She's been involved with the 4-H program as a member and now as a judge. What is she excited about for the next generation of farmers? What's one piece of advice she'd give to someone who is younger and planning a career in Ag or even someone who is looking to make a career change and get into farming for the first time? What's on her marketing plan for 2022?

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: What are the benefits of growing your own food? How can gardening help counter a lot of the struggles that many folks are facing when it comes to food insecurity, food deserts, food related health issues, etc.? How is she using community-building as a part of her marketing strategy? Should gardening be taught in schools alongside Ag education? Is there room in today's society for both gardening and farming?

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 the 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: How do two folks working in advertising and journalism come to own a farm? As first-time farmers, was there anything from their prior work experience that they think helped them in taking on this new venture? As people with advertising, and journalism backgrounds, what is their advice to those Ag folks who might not have formal marketing and communications training? Why was it important to them to launch events alongside growing produce and raising livestock for sale? Where do their event ideas come from? Where do their find inspiration? What are some tips for building an email marketing strategy? What's been their favorite marketing campaign?

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: When did Kevin and Shelby come up with the idea of diversifying the family farm and how long of a process was it for them to go from the idea for a creamery to production? Knowing what they know now, what, if anything, would they have done differently when they were first starting to market Hawthorne Creek Creamery? In 3 short years, they've been able to build some amazing partnerships across Florida with supplying cheese to Spurrier's Gridiron Grille and now Publix - did they face any challenges with growing so quickly and how did they overcome them? As someone with a marketing background who also leads marketing for Hawthorne Creek Creamery - what has been one of Shelby's favorite marketing campaigns or channels that she has used to reach their customers? When it comes to marketing their products, almost all farmers are challenged with facing the misconceptions and misinformation that consumers have about farming. As someone who has lived almost his entire life on a farm - what are Kevin's thoughts on how farmers can educate their consumers? Kevin and Shelby were just recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation in the top 10 for the Achievement in Agriculture competition. And Kevin is also serving as President of the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers leadership group this year. What has involvement in an organization like the Farm Bureau done for them? What's on the Hawthorne Creek Creamery marketing plan for 2022? Learn more: www.thefarmersfeed.com www.hawthornecreekcreamery.com