Drum roll please.Today, I am excited to have a guest blogger - Mrs. Kasey Hunt. Kasey, President of the Missouri Cattlewomen's Association, wrote an article about our chance meeting earlier this year, and I think it just goes to show that there is always the opportunity to create a new relationship or network with someone, even when you might least expect it. Thanks Kasey!
“Life as an Ag Girl and Everything that Comes with It” by Kasey Hunt
After experiencing the Blizzard of 2011, I couldn’t be more excited for spring to get here. I had every intention of writing about my trip to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention and Trade Show. However, since the blizzard caused me to have three cancelled flights and I was fighting a horrible cold, I had to make the decision that home is where I needed to stay.
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I have a "ear tag" name tag like this one on my suitcases as well. |
My blizzard wasn’t a complete waste because I was snowed in at my cousin and his wife’s house in Smithville, MO. They have two boys; ages four and one, and I had the opportunity to bond with them. Also, while standing in line to rebook my first flight, I saw an ear tag on a piece of luggage that read “my address (going to keep that secret).” I quickly introduced myself to the woman standing across from me who I found out was Crystal. We weren’t able to talk very long, but later exchanged a few Facebook messages. She ended up having the same trouble I did flying out of KCI, but she eventually succeeded.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. What should have been a week of attending meetings, events and networking with others in the cattle industry led to a new passion, researching agriculture blogs. While Crystal and I were exchanging messages, she encouraged me to join her Facebook page
Crystal Cattle. This page is why I started to read more blogs and I want to pass it along to you the readers why I think you may want to read it as well.
With the media and animal activist groups telling the story of agriculture instead of the farmers and ranchers, Crystal felt it was time for our voices to be heard. She started her blog two years ago this spring and absolutely loves being able to tell the story of agriculture to those who are not able to experience the life on an everyday basis. Her blog talks about everything from what is happening on her family’s farm,
to how to promote beef, the responses to negative agriculture articles and her weekly
“Turquoise Thursday” where she writes about some type of western turquoise inspiration.
“Advocating agriculture doesn’t mean you have to start a blog.” states Crystal, “It can be as simple as posting a status of what is going on at your farm, or asking someone at your grocers meat counter if they need help selecting a cut of meat for supper that night.” If you are interested in starting a blog, Crystal has a few posts on her blog explaining
how to start your own blog. She also states that NCBA’s Young Producer Council has an excellent “how to” guide on their site as well. Another tool Crystal finds helpful in sharpening her advocacy skills is the
Master of Beef Advocacy program.
The responses Crystal’s blog has received have been overwhelming. She has had the opportunity to have great conversations with not only consumers, but ranchers that have been shocked to hear of what people think about agriculture. Blogging has been a wonderful way for Crystal to network, make new friends and she is proud to have more than 6,000 people a month read the agriculture story.
If you would like to read Crystal’s blog, you can find it at
www.crystalcattle.com or on Facebook
at
www.facebook.com/crystalcattle. “The life of an ag girl and everything that comes with it” may just inspire you to tell your story too.