Monday, October 4, 2010

#140conf: Building Bridges & Growing Communities

I'm off to the #140conf in LA, filled with excitement and anticipation of the opportunities that await.

Being a part of the #140conf in SFO was an eye opening experience and I am truly grateful for Jeff Pulver (@jeffpulver) inviting both Ray Prock (@RayLinDairy) and myself to also be a part of the Los Angeles event.

Many of my friends and acquaintances within the agriculture community have asked me why I want to travel to LA and participate in a conference filled with "non-aggies."

The answer is simple. Everyone eats and if we in agriculture do not re-connect with our customers, what they eat will not be from here, but imported.

Consumers today are so far removed from the farm and ranch that they have lost a true understanding of how their food, fiber, fuel and shelter are grown.

I believe it is essential for farmers and ranchers to stop relying on others to communicate their with consumers. Yes, it is helpful, but having the actual growers share their personal story is what builds strong bridges and communities of shared understanding.

I look forward to events that have diverse interests in attendance. Agriculture has relied primarily upon industry organizations to spread its message for to long. It is high time for family farmers and ranchers to tell their own story.

Here in LA, I am going to share my story, make new friends, build new bridges and expand the ever growing and caring community of farmers, ranchers and consumers.
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Posted by JeffFowle at 9:46 AM
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4 comments:

  1. Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a DairymanOctober 4, 2010 at 10:24 AM

    Jeff, you and Ray both do such a fantastic job reaching and building communities beyond the ag world. I have learned so much from you and continue to do so. Thank you:)

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  2. JPlovesCOTTONOctober 4, 2010 at 3:12 PM

    Have I told you lately that YOU ROCK? I hope to watch you guys on a webcast! Make sure you get Chamillionaire lined up to do "ridin dirty" about a cotton picker or a combine or something!

    ReplyDelete
  3. KatieOctober 4, 2010 at 7:14 PM

    Amen to this Jeff! You know I am with you 100%. The voice of the farmer needs to be heard outside our traditions aggie circles. Excited to hear and learn about building communities through the #140 LA conference. Keep blogging about it! Thanks.
    Katie

    ReplyDelete
  4. KathyOctober 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM

    Can't wait to hear the lowdown on the event! Post plenty of pictures!

    ReplyDelete

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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.