Ag-Advocacy Academy Empowers Farmers

Rome, NY (March 2023)— Over thirty-five beef and dairy producers from across New York state joined together on March 10th & 11th for the Ag-Advocacy Academy hosted by the New York Beef Council (NYBC) and the Beef Checkoff. The workshop provided an opportunity for beef and dairy producers to gather and network while gaining new skills and confidence when promoting the beef industry. Chrissy Claudio (NYBC) & Nancy Glazier from the Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops team facilitated this year’s Ag-Advocacy Academy opportunity. The goal of the workshop was to better prepare regional beef producers to have impactful interactions with their customers, as well as serve as industry spokespeople. This year’s Ag-Advocacy Academy was led by Chandler Mulvaney the Director of Grassroots Advocacy & Spokesperson Development at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, contractor to the Beef Checkoff.   

One workshop attendee shared “The Ag-Advocacy Academy training experience was a great way to dive into promoting the beef world online and through media interviews. It was thorough enough to get started in advocating, however, didn’t overwhelm us with information to where it scared us from starting the journey of advocacy. Chandler was a phenomenal instructor that seamlessly helped us through the course and was welcoming to questions as well as working conversations. It was a great experience and I’m thankful for the relationships forged for the future!”   

Workshop attendee and CCE Livingston County Agriculture Program Leader, Ken Estes shared: “As more and more of our society becomes further and further removed from the farm and where the food that they consume comes from, our efforts to communicate our story and perspective becomes more and more needed. Trainings like the Ag-Advocacy Academy become a vital tool in assisting those on the farm to give voice to their roles within their communities and our society as a whole. We all can benefit from adding tools to our toolbox in that effort and this training does that!”   

Workshop attendee Kate Morrow of Ghost Light Farm in Cambridge, NY shared: “With less than 2% of the US population involved in agriculture - it is important, more now than ever before, that we tell our stories. This seminar gave me the tools to refine my own story, and the confidence to keep sharing it.”   

Over the last few years NYBC has educated and empowered over 100 beef producers, but we always need more!  Prior graduates and interested beef producers are encouraged to nominate fellow beef producers by emailing their information to Chrissy Claudio at [email protected]   

To learn more about New York Beef Council and Beef Checkoff-funded activities happening in New York visit https://www.nybeef.org/