SPECIAL TOPIC: Social Media and Agriculture 

 Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 3:30 - 5:00 Eastern http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/Learn 

 The purpose of this conference is to provide examples of how social media is being used in agriculture. Ag Extension agents, specialists and others who attend will become familiar and begin to understand how social media is being used in agriculture and begin to use the tools themselves. 

 Presenters are: 

  Arlan Suderman, Market Analyst, www.twitter.com/arlanff101, will discuss the use of Twitter and mobile applications in sharing information that affects commodity markets. 

  Will Gilmer, Alabama dairy farmer, www.twitter.com/gilmerdairy, will discuss his use of blogging, Twitter, and video to educate others and serve as an ag advocate, by using contests, videos, blogging and Twitter. 

  Carrie Oliver, Oliver Ranch Company, www.twitter.com/carrieoliver & www.twitter.com/meatcamp, will discuss her use of Twitter and blogging in support of her business and in educating other about the speciality meat industry, Artisan Meat. She will also discuss an open Twitter forum called #meatcamp that focuses on issues pertaining to producing and consumer use of meat. This forum is a collaborative effort among Carrie, www.twitter.com/KYFarmersMatter (cattle producer and livestock processor), and Penn State meat scientist, Chris Raines, www.twitter.com/iTweetMeat. 

  Dan Toland, Ohio Farm Bureau www.twitter.com/OhioFarmBureau and www.twitter.com/d_toland, will discuss how Farm Bureau's success in using social media as way to educate and communicate about issues of agriculture. He will also discuss briefly Ohio Farm Bureau's social media policies. 

  Andy Kleinschmidt, Ohio State Ag Extension educator, www.twitter.com/akleinschmidt, will describe his success in blogging and Twitter as an Extension educator.