Table Talk with Brenda Dowiasch
Do you love talking about agriculture? I know I sure do. Shortly after joining Farm Bureau, I became involved in my local Promotion and Education committee in Eau Claire County.
I enjoy telling my story about growing up on a dairy farm and continue to share how great it is to be working in agricultural business. Even though I consider my area rural, many people have questions about agriculture and what we are doing on farms.
Promotion and Education has given me the resources and tools needed, to share my story and information about agriculture with others.
Getting Started
Are you new to Promotion and Education or maybe just looking for some fresh ideas? Schedule a casual meeting with a few Farm Bureau members. Share some thoughts on what you want to do for an event or outreach in your area. Start out small with a couple of ideas or activities to host during the year. All county Farm Bureaus have a budget that is available to help fund your events. Contact your WFBF district coordinator to ask how to use the money available for Promotion and Education in your county or district.
Resources Available
If you are at a loss for ideas, I recommend using the Promotion and Education ‘Playbook.’ You can find it here. The ‘Playbook’ is a collection of events, programs and activities that have been held throughout Wisconsin at a local level. Use this as a resource guide when making plans. You will find activities for all ages, time frames and budgets.
Keep it Simple and Have Fun
We have made it a priority to do some fun outreach in Eau Claire County. We participated in a couple of parades in our area in 2022. Our theme this year was, ‘Farming … It’s in Our Jeans.’ We loaded up the flatbed trailer with a clothesline filled with denim jeans, a couple of pedal tractors and some flashy fringe. Several members of the Eau Claire County Farm Bureau and their family members handed out 1,500 beef snack sticks, information on member benefits and District 4 Local Producer Shopping Guides. We had a blast at the parade, while we promoted agriculture in our district and the great benefits of being a Farm Bureau member.
I enjoy taking a drive past the farm where I grew up. It amazes me how much my neighborhood has changed since moving to the area more than 30 years ago with my family. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to be a ‘country kid’ on the farm and I’m blessed to still be able work in the agricultural community.
I encourage you to continue to grow the Promotion and Education program in your community. Start small and work together to make plans for a couple of events in your area. Use the resources and funding available to you. Don’t forget to keep it simple and have fun. It is up to us to continue to share our stories and to teach others about agriculture.
Brenda Dowiasch is the District 4 Representative on the WFBF Promotion and Education Committee and also serves as the chair. Brenda has a lifelong passion for agriculture, which began from an early age growing up on her family’s dairy farm in western Wisconsin. Brenda still enjoys talking about crops, cattle and farming while working with her customers in central Wisconsin as an ag lender.
The Promotion and Education Committee is a dynamic group of Farm Bureau leaders who develop, implement and promote programs that build agricultural awareness and provide leadership development to the agricultural community.
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