Rural Lifestyle on Highway 6

The "N-Word" & Other Iowa State Fair Thoughts

Meet Edward Lewis from rural Montgomery County...yes, Iowa.  If you were one of the one-million+ fairgoers to the 2009 Iowa State Fair you no doubt saw him and wondered who in the heck was this guy walking quickly through the fairgrounds holding, high, a flag of Iowa.  He wouldn't say anything he would just walk and walk and walk.  Did you see him?

You couldn't have missed Edward Lewis....he was there...everyday...eleven days....ten hours a day...rain or shine.

Why?  That's what we wanted to know so I stopped him and asked him what was up.

"I'm a proud Iowan who enjoys the fair and see an opportunity to share my joy of living here with others", said Lewis.  Edward is 45 years old and has a reason to celebrate.  "I've had open heart surgery, my arteries were blocked and they did five by-passes.  I think I've had maybe four heart attacks in my life.  I shouldn't really be here but I am and as long as I am I want to help celebrate the goodness of Iowa."

So far...so good.

"I also want folks to cut down on the use of the "N-Word" if you know what I mean", said Lewis.  "No, not quite sure what you mean," said I.  "Well, you know, that state to the west of us."  "Nebraska?", I asked.  "Oh NO!  There you go!  Don't say that...."

I'll try not to do that Edward.  But seriously, what if this action by Edward Lewis catches on?  Might there be TWO people at the Iowa State Fair next year holding high an Iowa flag and silently proclaiming what a great state we have?  And, then three and four....how cool. Bet it wouldn't happen over in...you know..."over there".

Also spent some time on Sunday afternoon with Bob Schultz who has been on the Iowa State Fair Board for years.  We talked about the numbers and he said that if Saturday was over 100,000 people and Sunday hit 100,000 they would reach that one-million attendee mark.  He was right on.  Saturday was about 105,000 and Sunday 100,143 folks came through the gates.  Well done.

I also had to ask Bob about the Michael Jackson butter sculpture and the flap that created.  "It was all staff driven. The last thing we knew was that the theme was going to be "Field of Dreams" and somehow it ended up being about the Moon Landing complete with a Michael Jackson doing the "moon walk".  They did that and we caught the grief."  The State Fair Staff opened it up for a vote by Iowan's.  And the issue was smacked down 66% opposed to an Butter Michael and 32% approving.  Funny how things happen huh?

The Iowa State Fair is a great place to be...with or without an Iowa Flag or a State Fair Board Member pin.  Ask Edward Lewis or any number of his 999,999+ friends.

Thanks for reading - MIchael Libbie- Acreage Owner and Host

You couldn't have missed Edward Lewis....he was there...everyday...eleven days....ten hours a day...rain or shine.

Why?  That's what we wanted to know so I stopped him and asked him what was up.

"I'm a proud Iowan who enjoys the fair and see an opportunity to share my joy of living here with others", said Lewis.  Edward is 45 years old and has a reason to celebrate.  "I've had open heart surgery, my arteries were blocked and they did five by-passes.  I think I've had maybe four heart attacks in my life.  I shouldn't really be here but I am and as long as I am I want to help celebrate the goodness of Iowa."

So far...so good.

"I also want folks to cut down on the use of the "N-Word" if you know what I mean", said Lewis.  "No, not quite sure what you mean," said I.  "Well, you know, that state to the west of us."  "Nebraska?", I asked.  "Oh NO!  There you go!  Don't say that...."

I'll try not to do that Edward.  But seriously, what if this action by Edward Lewis catches on?  Might there be TWO people at the Iowa State Fair next year holding high an Iowa flag and silently proclaiming what a great state we have?  And, then three and four....how cool. Bet it wouldn't happen over in...you know..."over there".

Also spent some time on Sunday afternoon with Bob Schultz who has been on the Iowa State Fair Board for years.  We talked about the numbers and he said that if Saturday was over 100,000 people and Sunday hit 100,000 they would reach that one-million attendee mark.  He was right on.  Saturday was about 105,000 and Sunday 100,143 folks came through the gates.  Well done.

I also had to ask Bob about the Michael Jackson butter sculpture and the flap that created.  "It was all staff driven. The last thing we knew was that the theme was going to be "Field of Dreams" and somehow it ended up being about the Moon Landing complete with a Michael Jackson doing the "moon walk".  They did that and we caught the grief."  The State Fair Staff opened it up for a vote by Iowan's.  And the issue was smacked down 66% opposed to an Butter Michael and 32% approving.  Funny how things happen huh?

The Iowa State Fair is a great place to be...with or without an Iowa Flag or a State Fair Board Member pin.  Ask Edward Lewis or any number of his 999,999+ friends.

Thanks for reading - MIchael Libbie- Acreage Owner and Host

Agriculture & Social Media

Over the past few years we've tried like crazy to get folks involved in agriculture to embrace social media.  We've had some great success with our advertising agency clients, Calcium Products and NatraTurf and limited success with several others.  But, most of the folks we talk with are not interested or see the value in putting social media tools in their marketing toolbox.

But, maybe this story might change some minds.

Last week on our daily business radio show, Insight on Business we featured Brent Pohlman the Director of Marketing & Business Development for Midwest Laboratories.  Midwest Labs has, for years, been involved in soil testing for farmers out of their Omaha location.   About a year ago Brent started using a Blog and then added Twitter @MidwestLabs and @BrentKPohlman and built his profile for LinkedIn and Facebook.  The result has been increased business opportunities and a better understanding of current and future client needs.

"We've been able to connect with our customer base and be seen as a help and not just always pushing a service", said Pohlman.  "We've experienced a much higher degree of understanding and many, many more qualified visits to our website."

And...Twitter has actually helped forecast an increase in business:

"Several weeks ago I noticed a number of Tweets about India testing for melamine in chocolate and in milk the country was importing from China.  I went back to our food research department and asked if we had seen any increase in the number of melamine tests.  He said we had not.  I suggested to him that he might be ready for a rush.  Sure enough about four days later we saw a 100% increase in requested tests for melamine."

So, how about you?  If you are in manufacturing, farming, niche farming, organics...what ever the business if you are looking to increase your visability....you might be ready to dive in and see what you might be able to accomplish by using social media in agriculture.  Give us a call...

You can keep up with us any number of ways:  On Twitter we're at @MichaelLibbie, @InsightADV or @RuralLifeRadio.  You can drop by our website, www.InsightCubed.com to learn more about what we do.

A quick shout out to our friends at Capital City Equipment Kubota dealers in Ames and Des Moines and to Iowa Water Solutions for water that is perfect...every day!

Reuniting With Twitter In Red Oak, Iowa

Last week my son and I traveled from Des Moines to Red Oak (pop 5,754) to do a seminar for the Western Iowa Tourism Region.  The region is large...very large...stretching from north of Sioux City to well south of Council Bluffs and from  Council Bluffs east to within 30 miles of Des Moines.  About 80 folks came to learn about social media and how it can help any business connect and get found.  We had a great time.  And, if you want to see the "business side" of the story head to our advertising agency site and have a read.  This post is more personal and it shows the value of social media.

This is Leah Guffey Banister, and her husband Sgt. Banister (who is currently in Iraq).   Leah lives and works in Springfield, Illinois for the convention and visitors bureau.  She too is a former Farm Broadcaster.

Leah and I "follow" each other on Twitter.  Me = @RuralLifeRadio and Leah = @Farmerspice.  When I posted a week ago that I was headed to Red Oak for this seminar she responded with a note that Red Oak was one of her favorite places and that she had so many fond memories about her grandparents, Jack "Buford" Guffey and Betty (Wigg) Guffey.(pictured) "They are buried in Nyman", she told me.  "But, I have two aunts still living there, Mary Guffey and Martha Guffey Heckert."

So, when doing the seminar last week I got on Twitter and asked for folks to shout back.  Up until now most of the people in the seminar saw, I believe, little to no value in Twitter.  Until Leah "came back" and offered a shout out and used her aunt's names, Mary Guffey, Elizabeth Guffey and Martha Guffey Heckert. 

Right away several people in the audience gasped.  "Oh my!  I know those people!", said one.  Another, "They come to the Red Coach Inn all the time for dinner!"

And, so the personal connection was made. And when Leah mentioned that her favorite house in Red Oak was on North 4th Street the people watching this projected conversation, who knew Red Oak, nodded in agreement.

The connection was made and Twitter honestly meant something.  No doubt we'll be seeing more from folks in Western Iowa as they work toward improving our Rural Economics by encouraging people to come and experience the beauty of Western Iowa.

See, it's all about the technology bringing about relationships...  When you think of it that way, it makes sense.  Oh, and another reason to call out for high speed broadband internet for Rural America...think of the possibilities.

Michael Libbie - Acreage Owner