Ag Communication Award Winners Presentation

After spending the morning taking the voice of agvocacy to their legislators, Ag Communication Award Winners Kathryn Shallenberger and Jami Willard offered a few tips on how to approach our nation’s leaders with our ag message:

Effective Communication with Legislators

Communication 101:

-          Confidence

-          Clear

-          Concise

Avoid

-          Uh, um, like, so, you know

Think BEFORE you speak or respond

Preparation

-          Be well research and well-rehearsed.  Have a game plan and know your issues

-          Find good data; know your sources and trust your findings.

-          Know who you’re talking to; do research on the legislator

-          Establish yourself as an “expert”

-          Use anecdotes

-          Hold them accountable

-          Stay on topic

-          Be prepared to answer questions

-          Be a good listener

-          Be responsive and thought provoking

Before you leave/follow-up

-          Leave a concise (no more than one page) overview of your issue and position with the official

-          Provide them with all your contact info and make the offer to serve as a resource

-          Do so within a few days via email

-          Do so within 2 weeks via mail

Etiquette:  The Do’s and Do Not’s

-          Respect staff: they are most likely the legislator’s chief adviser on the issue most important to you, and will be the last person the speak with before making a final decision on your request

-          Always be polite; go out of your way to introduce yourself and develop a personal relationship, this includes other staff members.

Don’t forget

-          Be a source of information

-          Keep in contact/stay engaged

-          Engage other ag leaders

-          Invite them for farm tour