By Haley Herzog
TFB Communications Intern
Food fights may seem entertaining, but there’s nothing funny about the fights taking place over agriculture.
Farming practices, biotechnology and animal welfare are just a few of the issues being debated online. Engaging with consumers in those discussions has become a passion of Michelle Miller’s, the self-professed “Farm Babe.”
She found her passion for agriculture when she met her “prince farming.” And her life in the city, along with her expensive grocery bill, changed.
Miller brings a unique perspective as a big city globetrotter turned Iowa farm girl, and plants the seeds inside the minds of those looking to better understand modern agriculture.
She advocates for farmers, ranchers and rural America while busting food and agricultural myths. She updates her Farm Babe blog and social media accounts with current information and writes a weekly column for AgDaily.com.
She discussed agricultural advocacy and social media with Texas farmers and ranchers at Texas Farm Bureau’s Summer Leadership Conference Tuesday, June 26.
“Everywhere you go, there’s the opportunity to talk about the successes of our industry and to do some myth busting and to help people understand more about what we do as farmers,” Miller said in an interview with the TFB Radio Network.
Through life on the farm with her sixth generation farmer boyfriend, Miller has learned first-hand what it’s like to be involved in modern agriculture.
“I used to fall victim to a lot of myths. Looking back, I spent way too much money on groceries, unnecessarily, because I was worried about GMOs, or chemicals or the way livestock are treated, but you find out that a lot of that isn’t always the truth,” Miller said.
Miller’s also not one to shy away from tough topics.
“We have to get outside of our comfort zone and talk with others outside of agriculture,” Miller said. “We have to face the tough conversations and be transparent. That’s how we build relationships.”
Those tough conversations often begin due to the misinformation on food and farming used by companies in their marketing efforts.
“It’s food companies and their marketing, or activist groups or people who are well-intentioned, but just misinformed sharing a false message,” Miller said. “To go from the big city to falling in love with my ‘prince farming’ and moving to Iowa, it’s really opened my eyes. It’s brought about this passion to just encourage everybody to get out there and tell their story, because it’s a good one.”
Miller uses her platform to spread awareness about the importance of starting conversations about agriculture, and encourages others to use digital media to promote their passion and knowledge of agriculture.
“A great first step would just be to talk about it and just to share what happens day-to-day on your farm or ranch,” Miller said. “There’s so many different ways that we can have a voice. It doesn’t take much, and we shouldn’t be scared. The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the greater our voice becomes.”
Three-and-a-half years after beginning her social media movement, the Farm Babe believes that she, along with other advocates, have gained positive momentum and are continuing to increase agricultural awareness.
“I think with the support we have from different Farm Bureau groups or different voices through social media, we can continue to move that needle, but it’s going to take the cooperation of all of us,” Miller said.