I am a multigeneration farmer. I have been doing this my while life. I have two degrees in agriculture. I know my stuff. But yet somedays I feel like I don't have credibility.
Awhile back Trent Loos interviewed me about my blog and path to share agriculture's story and he asked me if I communicated much with mommy bloggers? My response was, "No."
You see it seems like until you have kids other people just don't trust you as much when you are talking about food. It is was even worse when I was single. At least now I am married. That somehow seemed to give me more street cred. And I am not alone in my thinking.
Dr. Jude Capper, an amazing rancher and scientist and lady behind the Bovidia blog, wrote a post asking "Do Moms Have Instant Beef Credibility?" Dr. Jude is expecting her first child and she confirmed what I have always suspected. She and other mothers are more credible than me, and all those other young women that are either too busy chasing their dream or just plain not interested in having children.
However, that doesn't mean I don't have influential. If you have heard me speak before there is this great book out there called The Influentials. And in it discusses how one in 10 Americans tells the other nine what to vote, where to eat and what to buy.
You have influential no matter what stage of life you are in. And you have to decide how you are going to use that influential. I hope I can influence you to believe that farmers no matter how big or little their farm is, whether they use GMO seed or only do organic, if they use antibiotics or not, they are all good people that care about the food they are producing. And if you are confused about why and the world would a farmer do that you would ask one or ask me and I'll help you find the answer. And two if you are going to invest in a longwear lipstick it should be MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme.
One of the Hereford heifers we raised.
Ah friend, I appreciated this. I don't know. The whole blogging thing is kinda funny, and here I am along with others tapping away on the keyboard...
ReplyDeletebut for me, I'm not looking for influence, even though I agree, we do have it! I like to give people a glimpse of a cow calf operation, agriculture in Alberta, a look into the corners of my home -- my meals, my kids, whatevs, but truth be told, I just blog and I wish I had a good reason that filled my heart with purpose - but I just simply like to blog. 'Cause I like the written word, I like to see into other people's lives, I like to see other parts of the world, meet other people - and I think whatever the medium is ag, family, motherhood, cooking, whatever - it helps us all understand one another better.
And now I have rambled for nothing. Just know, I appreciate EVERYTHING you write about - and your kindness and encouragement with my little corner of the web has kept me writing and telling my story. So THANK YOU. :)
Cheyenne, that's the thing you do have influence maybe without you even realizing. I hope you keep on "doing what you do" too. Embrace your influence. You have a lot of wise words for the world!
DeleteI've always enjoyed your blog and quite often learn something important here, too, which is a real plus. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lois. I always love when you stop by.
DeleteCrystal - Keep kicking some butt here in the blogosphere....we are listening. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you do the same. I love all your little lamb pictures. I hope you can "influence" a whole other group of women to move from city life to farm life!
DeleteNot looking to influence. Started seriously keeping my blog while my oldest boy was overseas.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do read a few mothers, I'd rather listen to a farmer, or someone like you, because that's where I'm at in my life.
Have a blessed Friday and a wonderful weekend. ♥
Ahh the mom bloggers, they are great but I agree - being a mom doesn't make you more credible. I often submit posts to be considered by BlogHer & one of their questions is "are you a mom?" - I always say no but wonder if my chances would be better if I checked yes. Or more importantly, what does being a mom have to do with it. I may have gone off topic, but I totally get it : ) Keep on keeping on or should I say blogging.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same, I'm not in the mommy group, but I want to make a difference and I want to show others that you can speak up for ag and do something neat :)
ReplyDelete