Is AgVocating for you?!?!?!?!?!

I recently had the privilege of attending the Arkansas Women in Ag conference in North Little Rock and came home with newly acquired knowledge on a variety of topics along with a renewed feeling for the need to AgVocate. Some of you may be wondering what it means to AgVocate..... and as the guest speaker of the conference, Carrie Mess, A.K.A.  Dairy Carrie put it so simply-- it is "Telling your Story" or Advocating for Agriculture.

Carrie truly is an AgVocate for this amazing industry and her whole presentation was to educate all of us on how to educate society and our consumers on OUR practices, OUR processes and OUR stories.... because---If we do not, someone else will.

Ok, so now you are wondering just who that 'someone else' is. This my friends is where things get scary, where we start to see just why those of us in this industry need to learn how to and find our own way to communicate to our consumers. The 'someone else' is typically those people who do not understand our way of life, do not live our way of life and who more than likely think our way of life needs to be dealt with and abolished.

For those of us in the industry we are very aware of who this 'someone else' is... The first two organizations that will pop into our minds are HSUS (Human Society of the United States) and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)..... For those of you unfamiliar with the actual motivation and purpose of these organizations, please do your research. While they advertise their "Love" for 4-legged furry critters---most will be pleasantly surprised that it is a far cry from the "Love" most farmers and ranchers will show for their 4-legged furry critters and their way of life. The "Love" these two groups (and many others like them) portray is nothing more than their way to get YOUR money..... and NO!!!  YOUR money donated to organizations like HSUS will not go to your LOCAL Humane Society.

Back to the conference: After listening to Carrie, along with other presenters (I will be highlighting some of these presentations and speakers in the days to come) through the two day conference... I left that Friday afternoon asking myself just how I was going to tell our story so that the generations after us could carry on in our footsteps and continue to Build a Legacy in our family name.

So here I am today... writing this blog post trying to find my voice in a small knit Agriculture Industry trying to educate and feed an ever growing world population, sharing via social media outlets, Facebook , Twitter and Instragram-- fun but educational blurps from our life with a small commercial cow/calf herd AND AgVocating as a new member of our Team BEEF Arkansas.

Now tell me---
 What is your story? Do you raise crops? Cows? Horses? Sheep? Hogs? Chicken? Timber? Participate in a Farmers Market?  Just enjoy the scenery and serenity of living in the country? Enjoy eating a big juicy steak? What about a homemade breakfast wtih a cold glass of milk, bacon, sauage and eggs?

AND

How are you telling it? Blogging? Sharing via social media? Member of Team BEEF? Member of a local organization (Cattlemen, Women in Ag, Farm Bureau, etc)? Talking to consumers at the grocery store?

Don't forget...........if you are talking to someone, anyone, about YOUR industry and YOUR agricultural lifestyle--you are an AgVocate!!!

13.1

Yes.. You read that right, 13.1--miles... Yes miles...  Are you cringing yet? Or itching to lace up your shoes? Me-- I'm still contemplating my answer to that ;)

I started running about 3 years ago and competing in 5k's (3.1 miles).  Last year I stepped it up and completed my first 10k (6.2 miles) and ran my second one a little over a month ago. The adrenaline rush from crossing that finish line and running to beat your own time is amazing.  I have a friend, Dottie, who  got me started running and who runs quite a bit more than I do-- and she has been one of a few who keeps me inspired and motivated to keep pushing myself......

Pushing is exactly what I did this past year. I can officially say that I have ran and completed my first ever half-marathon.... Some may not think much of it but let me just tell you what an accomplishment it feels personally!! Dottie and I have ran the Little Rock 5k together the last 2 years and decided this year we would do the half. 13.1 miles takes preparation, focus, and endurance.. And for this particular race this year-- a raincoat and gloves....

One of which we both forgot in the vehicle as we headed toward the start line!! The race this year was cold with temperatures dropping as the race went on and wet as it drizzled and sprinkled pretty much the whole time.  And the course... I always forget just how tough the courses are in downtown Little Rock...  They will test you physically and mentally.


We ran the first 11 miles with those running the full marathon.... And can I just tell you when I saw the miles 13 sign the only thing I could think was... I am sooooo glad I don't have another 13 to go!! This girl doesn't think she'll ever do anything more than 13.1 but I'm ok with that:)

We had plenty of cheerleaders there that day and had it not been raining they had motivating signs for us too :) Dot told me before we got to the race Sunday morning-- 'you'll feel like a badass when you finish' and let me just tell you 'badass' might have been an understatement!! The theme of this years race was 'Epic' and epic it was!!! Oh and did I mention the medals they give to all finishers?!?! They are massive!!

If you've been thinking of getting started my first piece of advice-- sign yourself up for a 5k! It's the best motivation to get you going and keep you going....

Do you run? Are you thinking of competing in a race? What's the longest distance you've ran?

Any full marathoners out there?!?! Any one compete in any of the Little Rock races this past weekend?