Serving as an ISA District 8 director and most recently elected secretary for the ISA board, Miller routinely accepts media inquiries and completes interviews with television, radio and newspaper reporters. “We need to tell our story, to advocate,” he says. “Otherwise, people that don’t know anything about it will and it won’t be factual.” Miller’s proximity to Des Moines makes his farm a prime location for TV interviews. He welcomes them to his farm, not because it’s his favorite thing to do, but because he feels it’s the right thing to do. “I’ve always said that if you’re going to complain about something, you need to be willing to fix it. You have to be part of the solution,” Miller asserts. “By not being willing to talk to people about issues in agriculture, you’re not going to fix anything. I want to help fix things, not just complain about them.”
Member focused programming Farmers like Bissell and Miller inspire the programming for the Communications Squad. In 2021, the group is diversifying into three primary areas of communication. Farmers participating
choose between writing, social media or spokesperson task forces. They will be challenged to create, strengthen, or seek out communications platforms to share their farming stories and important messages for Iowa agriculture. Be it media interviews, personal or farm social media accounts, blogs, letters to the editor or speaking with reporters, the 2021 squad is tasked with closing the gap between farmer and consumer, all while bolstering the soybean industry. “There’s such a disconnect between the farm and the majority of the population,” laments Bissell who enjoys content from other farmers on platforms such as YouTube. “But I know my family likes watching other people farm, too. The more of us sharing our farms, the better. It lets people see what we’re doing.” For other farmers who don’t see themselves as communicators, Bissell’s message is simple. “Just say yes.” And Miller agrees. “It takes practice,” he says. “Fully engage and do it right. Commit to it and learn from it.” Miller practices media interviews with ISA staff before completing them and pays close attention to other farmers who are on the frontlines sharing
agriculture’s message. “If you don’t get out of your comfort zone, you’re never going to find out what it is that you enjoy and are good at.”
Moving forward And the benefit of farmer communication goes beyond sharing accurate consumer messages. A wellplaced effort from a farmer can help further positive policy movements and foster relationships with lawmakers. “The average farmer does have a voice, and if you ban together and go with other farmers to share your voice, they will listen,” says Miller, who sees his communications efforts compliment the policy work of ISA. Participants in the 2021 Communications Squad will get to hear firsthand information related to policy issues, consumer trends and communications opportunities, all while getting to meet and network with other soybean farmers from across the state. For more information about the Communications Squad and involvement opportunities, visit the membership programs page at www.iasoybeans.com. Contact Katie James at kjames@iasoybeans.com
ISA Public Relations Manager Katie James leads a Communications Squad session at the REG office in Ames for a summer session in 2019.
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