“In order to influence others, you need to give them something to hold on to,” political commentator Dana Perino told 2017 Dairy Strong attendees. Perino served as press secretary to President George W. Bush and is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s The Five.

We know dairy farmers have limited time to participate in events, so we design the Dairy Strong conference to give you the best return on your time and money.

As much as we may not want to admit it, we rely on our smartphones for almost everything – depositing checks, getting alerts when someone enters our home and much more. There are many benefits to having a smartphone, especially as a farmer or someone involved in agriculture today.

What had been a “should” when it comes to social media for the agriculture community has become a “must.” Millions of customers are ready and willing to engage with farmers. When we don’t take that opportunity, animal rights activists and others are there to fill the void.

Social media is like a difficult curve ball that even the best baseball player struggles to hit. It requires practice, willpower and a little luck to be an all-star. The average teen is spending up to nine hours a day on social media. It is more critical now than ever to be active on social media platforms.

Getting more involved on social media provides the dairy community with numerous benefits but can be daunting at first. There are over a billion people around the world consumed by social media every day. One post could create millions of lasting impressions. It all starts with baby steps to reach your goals and reap the rewards.

Millennials bring a new culture to the work environment, which can be an adjustment for others. Be assured, we millennials are not trying to frighten you. Instead, we are bringing our unique and diverse brain power to the table.