2 minute read
Hosting a Legislator
How to Host a Visit
On-site visits are a powerful way to introduce legislators and regulators to your agribusiness and its day-to-day operations. The Ohio AgriBusiness Association is pleased to coordinate on-site visits and will act as a liaison between you and the legislator’s office. If you are interested in hosting a visit at your facility, please contact Chris Henney at chenney@oaba.net to begin scheduling.
Preparing for the Visit
Legislative visits are most powerful when you take time to plan the visit and prep your staff. See tips below for best practices: Talk with OABA. Your association is a great resource for helping to plan your facility visit. OABA can provide talking points, advice for structuring the day, coaching for staff and more. Inform your staff of the visit. Make sure all staff know the date and time of the legislative visit. Though you should take time to prep to anyone who will be involved in the visit, all staff should be aware you will be hosting an important visitor. Plan the visit. Know where in the facility you will take your visitor and alert staff in those areas that you will be bringing the visitor through. See below for key elements to plan in your day. Prepare your script. Have your “script” prepared for the day, everything from company details to regulations/issues you wish to feature. Ensure all involved in the visit know what they are responsible for. Anticipate questions. Your visitors will likely have many questions about your operations and the issues your company faces. Think through what questions they may have and be prepared with answers. Practice. Prior to the visit, plan a walkthrough of the day, visiting every area and talking through your script as a staff. Clean the facility. Take extra time to make your facility presentable. Ensure there are no safety concerns or regulation violations. Remind the day before. The day before the visit, remind your staff about the upcoming visit. You may encourage staff to wear their company shirts to show off their company pride.
Each visit will look different, but a successful visit will include the following: Welcome and introductions. Upon their arrival, greet your legislator and their staff warmly — as if you were welcoming them into your home. Introduce them to all who will be involved in the day’s visit. Company overview. Introduce the visitors to your company, your history, current operations, territory, staff size, community involvement... whatever you deem most important. This provides your visitors background on your operations. Facility tour. As you are able, showcase all areas of your facility and explain their importance to your operation. Question and answer. Leave ample time to allow your visitors to ask questions. Take a picture and share it! Legislators love engaging with their constituents online and showcasing the visits they’ve conducted in their districts. Commemorate the visit with a photo in front of your facility sign and share it on your social media channels.
Send a thank you. Send a thank you note to your legislators’ office, thanking them for visiting and highlighting any key issues you discussed. Continue the relationship. Site visits are a powerful tool and deepen your relationship with your legislators. Continue to engage with your legislators through phone calls, emails and office visits when the need arises.
