| FFA Nation

Christine Lindner advocates for agriculture as Alice in Dairyland

03/09/2011 |

Telling the story of Wisconsin agriculture has become a lifelong passion for Christine Lindner. A native of Beaver Dam, Wis., she advocated while serving as her FFA chapter president, then as the Wisconsin state FFA reporter, and now as Wisconsin's 63rd Alice in Dairyland.As Alice, she serves as a spokesperson for Wisconsin agriculture, working to educate audiences of all ages through media interviews, school visits and event presentations. In one year, she will travel more than 40,000 miles, working on behalf of Wisconsin farmers to promote the state's agriculture. Learn more about Lindner's unique opportunity.

How were you chosen as Alice in Dairyland?
I first went through an intense five-month interview process, which included an initial job interview to be chosen as one of six finalists. As a finalist, I underwent a two-day briefing session and then a three-day public interview with a selection panel, where I was evaluated on a personal interview, writing exercise, radio and TV interviews, impromptu question-and-answer sessions, and agribusiness talks and speeches.

How do you feel FFA helped you be selected as Alice?
As a sophomore in high school, my life changed because of FFA. I competed in the State and National FFA Agricultural Sales Career Development Event (CDE). This CDE unwrapped my interest to pursue a career in agricultural sales and marketing. I often share this story with FFA members to help communicate the value of FFA and impact it can make for one individual. Now in my role as our state’s agricultural ambassador, I use the skills learned in FFA to bring Wisconsin’s $59 billion agriculture industry into our daily conversations. My goal is to encourage consumers to take action with their dollars in supporting agriculture by buying locally grown products, which allows each of us to support our state’s agriculture, local producers, communities and economies.

Why do you think it's so important for anyone involved with agriculture to advocate for our industry and teach others about how their food and fiber is produced?
The average American is now three generations removed from production agriculture. The need to connect and educate consumers about our food, fiber and natural resources industry is now. As agriculturists, using our shared values we must make essential connections with consumers face-to-face, through the media and using the latest communication tools to help consumers understand that foods found on grocery store shelves first start on farms. We must tell our story teaching others about agriculture from the nurturing of crops and the careful raising of our food animals, agriculture is a business and needs to keep modernizing and being innovative to grow using technology as a benefit to consumers. This allows producers to be more efficient in producing a safe, high quality and affordable food supply to feed the world.

What tips do you have for FFA members and chapters interested in doing more to educate others about agriculture? Maybe some examples of things you do that work really well?
Today’s consumers are seeking more information about where their food is grown or produced and how get’s to their grocery store shelves. As Wisconsin’s agricultural ambassador I communicate face-to-face with consumers at more than 300 food or farm events, work effectively with state-wide TV, radio, print and online media to increase awareness of agriculture’s significance and benefits to urban and rural audiences and through the use of social media to bring agriculture into our daily conversations.

Ways we can reach consumers, our neighbors, friends and family to share our story teaching others about our industry, as an agriculture advocate:
• Hosting “Meet and Greets” around your state, inviting consumers to come and meet producers and growers of our food, fuel and fiber on the farm. These on farm experiences build trust in relationships and ultimately in our food supply by connecting consumers to farm families. Video recording “Meet and Greets” could gain greater exposure by using interactive virtual communications and social media to link consumers with agriculture at their convenience.
• Connect farm to fork in daily face to face conversations: When you are at the dairy or meat case in grocery store, hair salon, food and farm events to tell our story of caring for the land, and animals. Let audience know type of agriculture business, multi-generation; connect on same values as a member of the community. Keep it simple!
• Guest speaker at a local civic clubs such as the Lions or Kiwanis.
• Send letters to the editor and comment to online articles. Tell the other side of the story to mainstream media.
• Get started using social media: Online conversations allowing us to tell our stories to the non-farm public using Face book, Twitter, Linked In, You Tube &, blogs.

Remember to speak from experience as you have passion for the topic because you’ve Earned the right, Eager to talk and Excited to share – You are the expert in your field. Become a storyteller!

You've stayed very involved with FFA after your experience as a member. Tell us about that, and why you are motivated to do so.
From my experiences in agriculture and FFA I have grown to appreciate our food, fuel and fiber industry and learn from those who are apart of it. I believe you surround yourself with the people you admire. You model their actions so you can become the person you want to be. While involved with agriculture education and FFA, I have surrounded myself with individuals who have extreme professionalism; persistence and desire to help others and an industry grow. Now as a lifetime FFA Alumni member and Wisconsin FFA Foundation Board member, I continue to connect with the people I admire from teachers, mentors, agribusinesses to life-long friends that enrich my life and empower me to serve as a lifelong advocate for agriculture. I want to share my experiences and attributes with FFA members, the next generation, as we will work together to advance global agriculture.

Anything else you'd like to share?
FFA members, take advantage of the opportunities within the organization to learn and grow and then to pass it on. I challenge you to stand up for American agriculture and be a lifelong advocate and share how our agriculture industry is feeding the world while helping create a better tomorrow for all of us.