Food Nutrition & Science has awarded Carrie Mess, also known as Dairy Carrie, the first Social Media Farmer of the Year Award.
Sponsored by AgWired, Bolthouse Farms, Monsanto, and the AgChat Foundation, Mess received the award at the AgChat Cultivate & Connect Conference held in Austin earlier this month. The award includes a donation of $2,500 to her chosen charity.
According to the release generated around the event, the award is given to farmers who use digital media, internet strategies, and social media to complete their business objectives, such as increasing revenue, sharing effective farming practice information, and promoting industry awareness in a positive way.
Phil Lempert, Food Nutrition & Science editor, said that Mess has used social media both as a tool to promote her farm, and also as a social change platform. He said that other farmers could use her example to educate consumers, the industry, and promote positive change.
Some entrepreneurs, when they receive an award of this type, choose to add the accolade to their business card printing or company Stationery, highlighting their acheivements in nearby areas like Watertown.
Mess, along with her family, runs Mesa Dairy, located in Lake Mills. The farm has 100 milking cows, a similar number of young stock, and 300 acres of crops. She used social media initially to connect with farmers nationally, and has used her platform to solicit donations during a drought, as well as prompting change to what she deemed an offensive marketing campaign. Get a Free Quote for Stationery
