Ken Root & AgChat Foundation

Two interesting stories for you.  One revolves around traditional media and my friend and fellow broadcaster, Ken Root the other is a Social Media movement created by farmers to tell their story to the 98.5% of the country that needs to know.  We'll start with traditional media.

 Last week my friend Ken Root landed a new job with WHO-TV 13.  This move signals, I think, a couple of major changes in thinking.  WHO-TV 13 thinks there is a demand for a local agri-business show that highlights a major industry here in Central Iowa.  They are correct.  The consumer is more involved in food choices today than ever before and Ken understands the power of food production on the large and small scale.  Think Community Supported Agriculture.  In addition Ken brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong voice of a person who has actually "been there".  Unable to convince his former bosses at 1040-WHO Radio about this and being the kind of guy who isn't easily corralled he was let go. So you know, the two WHO's are not related.  The radio station is part of the Clear Channel Communications and the television station is owned by Oak Hill Capitol Partners an investment group with offices in California, New York and Connecticut and owns LocalTV LLC.  Way to go Ken and WHO-TV 13 here is link to his broadcasts.

Now on to the world of Social Media and agriculture.  For sometime many of us have been art of #AgChat a monitored conversation held on Twitter started by Michele Payn-Knoper of Cause Matters Corp. who is an advocate for agriculture and telling farmers and producers about why they need to open up and share their stories with the rest of the world.

Many of you know, that from many angles, agriculture is being attacked.  From production methods to processing.  And, there is an agenda.  Now comes the AgChat Foundationa non-profit group dedicated to "empowering a connected community of AgVocates".  And, yes Michele is smack dab in the middle along with our friend Chuck Zimmerman from ZimmComm New Media and AgWired.

The AgChat Foundation, begun by farmers, is another attempt to share the story of agriculture with the 98.5% of the folks who are not connected to production agriculture.  It's also a way to harness social media to communicate with each other. Real farmers using social media?  Yep.  Here is a listing of their Board of Directors.

We think's it's another good step and thought you should know.

Michael P. Libbie - Acreage owner, advertising guy and talk show host.  You can catch, Insight on Business here and I monitor @RuralLifeRadio and @MichaelLibbie on Twitter.

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