Some ideas on bridging the gap between
farmer/ranchers and general public.

Through a brain storming exchange (Trying to find ways to bridge the gap between farmer/ranchers and general public.) our respected friend, Jill Marce, generously provided the following excellent ideas.

We encourage you to take a serious look at Jill's ideas. Surely your ag group (Like cattlemen or cattle women's.) would be happy to activate some...or of all of them.

A few years back, we enjoyed representing agriculture at "career days" in Denver middle and high schools. Wonder if anyone represents ag in those schools today?

We believe the biggest problem facing ag production today, is the clear dis-connect between us food providers and most consumers. Why is this such a problem? Well, you have a consumer who, because they don't know any different, give money to groups who are taking acreage out of production and turning it into fallow vistas.

Chuck & Roni
www.GoodNeighborLaw.com

Jill's Ideas:

First, you have a public who doesn't understand farmer/ranching. You need to build up a cadre of people who will go into grade, middle and high schools and speak to the kids to educate them. It has to be done in a way that fits into their curriculum vs. scare tactics or proselytize.

Because of gas prices you have a golden opportunity. Why are commodity prices up? People *are* feeling it at the grocery store. When people hurt they're more open to listening. Your message needs to be presented in a way most folks...at most levels of society...can hear it. ("What are you doing without?" "Why?" 'What can you do?" Do you know that wheat [bread, etc.] prices have gone up because of the need for car and truck fuel? Land is being used for corn for ethanol...not food.)
People feel it.

An idea: I think you have an opportunity to educate people by creating "Victory Gardens 2008" Your speel: "Ok, folks. Money's tight. Come to the school auditorium and we'll show you how to get a vegetable garden growing and help you cut food costs." You do it in conjunction with a local greenhouse, garden center or CSU. People are given discount coupons.

You share some of your issues (just a couple) and how it is and will impact the audience and tell them how to create or improve their gardens. You offer mentors who can be reached by phone to answer questions in each city where you're instituting this (my broccoli looks like a tree with nothing on it, my beans have taken over everything, I found a huge caterpiller.....) The mentors (farmers and ranchers) may share just a little bit of the message you want to get across. (You have to be *very* careful not to turn off folks with too much proselytizing.
Those are my thoughts on a Thursday morning. :))

Jill Marce

Good Neighbor Committee
P.O. Box 155 - La Salle, CO  80645
info@goodneighborlaw.com

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