Back in June, we launched the NutriDense Silage Web Moo.0 Contest in celebration of National Dairy Month. The competition was a fun contest that aimed to spotlight those in the dairy industry who are doing their part to tell the industry’s story through social media tools such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook.
Our grand-prize winner, fifth-generation Michigan dairy producer Ashley Messing, won the contest with a blog post that described her work on and off the farm as an industry “agvocate.” After Ashley received word that she won paid registration and travel expenses to the first AgChat Foundation’s Agvocacy 2.0 Conference next week in Chicago, we caught up with her to ask a few questions about her work with the dairy industry.
Q: Tell us more about you and your family’s connections to the dairy industry.
A: I am the third generation on my family’s current farm, but we have many more generations of dairy farmers behind us. My grandfather started this farm in the sixties and we have been here since then. We have about 200 cows in the operation, including Holsteins and Jerseys. When my parents decide to retire from the cows, I plan to take over the farm.
I went to Michigan State University, and I graduated with my dairy management degree from the Institute of Agricultural Technology, and then two years later with my bachelor’s degree in animal science. Through internships, I’ve worked on Fernjo Farms in Tulare, Calif., Michigan DHI and Alta Genetics.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working in the dairy industry?
A: Wow, this is always a tough question. I would have to say my favorite things are the people, the passion and the cows. The people are some of the best I have met anywhere. The passion we have for our jobs and heritage is invigorating. The cows are something I cannot live without.
Q: When and why did you first start using social media to promote dairy?
A: I began using social media to promote the dairy industry when I was in college. I decided to start a blog to share my year as the Michigan Dairy Ambassador. That blog led to Twitter, and discovering a huge passion I have for communication as well.
Q: What do you hope to get out of the AgChat Foundation’s Agvocacy 2.0 Conference?
A: At the Agvocacy 2.0 Conference, I hope to be able to fine-tune the skills I already have. I want to learn how to put my messages out in a more concise way. I also want to learn about making videos. That is the next venture I’ve been wanting to take in my social media journey. Networking with other social media and communications users like me is also going to be a huge part of my trip.
Thanks Ashley!
Look back at the contest – and our winners – in these previous NutriDense blog posts:
