Frazee joins Farm Bureau speaker corps

DES MOINES —Montgomery County Farm Bureau board member Curt Frazee attended training in Des Moines Feb. 2-3 for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) Speaker Corps.  

Members are nominated by their regional managers and county leaders.

Thirty-seven farmers participated in the 2012 training session, eager to learn the latest tools and outreach strategies to help them share the story of Iowa agriculture.

The session featured an evening reception that included legislative updates from Marty Schwager, state policy advisor, and Trudy Wastweet, national policy advisor.  

On Feb. 3, Laurie Johns, PR manager, and Heather Lilienthal, senior communications specialist, led Speaker Corps members on a discussion of the importance of connecting to consumers through common values, so they understand the styles, stories and motivations of today’s farmers.

Training covered media pitching, writing letters to the editor, presentation, social media and high-pressure on-camera television interviewing skills.

“Farmers know they’ve got to show consumers who they are by broadening their reach with media and consumer groups. Building confidence and providing tools to make that connection is the foundation of our training,” said Johns.

The group also met with Des Moines Register Editorial Page Editor Randy Evans and Betsy Freese, a writer, editor and blogger for the Meredith Corp-oration’s “Living the Country Life.”

While Speaker Corps training is held annually, Johns and Lilienthal provide customized training sessions for county groups, schools and organizations throughout the year.