Sunday, November 1, 2009

Why I Support Michele Payn-Knoper for Twitter User of the Year

This post is a break from the norm for me, but probably one of the most important.


I would like to recognize Michele Payn-Knoper for her stellar achievement of showing family farmers and ranchers, across the country, how to share their story with the public. She had a vision to create a forum to connect food producers with food consumers and has seen it blossom and grow into something wonderful, #agchat.

I personally would like to thank Michele for her efforts, knowledge and guidance. She is an inspiration to all of us in agriculture. Please join me in showing support for Michele by voting @mpaynknoper for “Twitter User of the Year.” Of all of those being nominated, I feel Michelle is especially deserving for giving a powerful voice to ag, and engaging conversations that are positive and productive.

It is not often that we encounter individuals that have such passion and desire to see a community of people succeed. Under her guidance, the agricultural community has learned how to effectively voice their stories, tell what they do, how they do it and why with sincerity and openness. Thank you Michele, for opening a door for us and showing us a tremendous opportunity; we are very appreciative of your effort and energy.

Please help us make Michele Payn-Knoper Mashable’s Twitter User of the Year. This award is based on the viral nature of social media and requires daily voting through November 15th to win the nomination.

About Me

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Jeff Fowle is a fourth generation family farmer and rancher from Etna, California. He and his wife Erin and son Kyle raise registered Angus cattle, Percheron draft horses, warmbloods, alfalfa and alfalfa-grass hay. They also start and train horses for riding, jumping, and driving. Their family run ranch has incorporated many environmentally beneficial and water efficient technologies and management strategies. Jeff attended college at Colorado State University for two years and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for four and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. Following college, he worked in Washington State for a year as a herdsman for BB Cattle Company and then returned to Etna, California in 1995 to own and operate KK Bar Ranch and Siskiyou Percherons. The latter was started by his grandfather, Clarence Dudley, who devoted much of his time to the Percheron Horse Association of America, specifically to developing their youth education program.