2015: The Early Days of Agriculture Advocacy on Social Media<\/h3>\n
In 2015, agriculture advocacy on social media still felt much like uncharted territory. We were nearly a decade into using Facebook<\/strong> and Twitter<\/strong>. Blogging tools such as WordPress<\/strong> were newer and gave us tools to share our stories directly with consumers. For many of us, the change from 2005 to 2015 felt like a revolution as social media gave us a way to answer questions, address misconceptions, and build trust far beyond our own communities. Where will we go in 2025 and over the next decade?<\/p>\n Advocacy in 2015 often felt reactionary<\/strong>. Our conversations were frequently shaped by headlines and corporate decisions, like Subway\u2019s antibiotics policy change<\/a> or Chipotle\u2019s marketing campaigns targeting conventional farming practices<\/a>. These moments ignited fierce debates and frustration.<\/p>\n One of the biggest stories I wrote about in 2015 was Subway\u2019s announcement about antibiotic-free sourcing<\/a> and their poorly managed response to farmers who spoke up on their Facebook page. It wasn\u2019t just about their policy. It was about feeling unheard<\/strong>. That sense of urgency, of having to respond quickly and forcefully, defined much of advocacy in that era.<\/p>\n When I look back at agriculture advocacy a decade ago, a few major themes stand out:<\/p>\n As we entered 2015, Agriculture Proud<\/strong> reached a milestone of 1 million views<\/strong> (my brand that a major<\/em> agricultural publisher has now stolen)<\/em>, a testament to the growing curiosity from consumers about farming and ranching. Aside from my posts responding to major headlines of the year, some of the most visited stories included:<\/p>\n These posts didn\u2019t just go viral and fade away. They continue to be searched, shared, and revisited<\/strong>. They proved that answering simple, honest questions with clear, respectful answers mattered.<\/strong><\/p>\n At the end of 2015, I shared three hopes for agriculture advocacy<\/a>:<\/p>\n It felt clear what we needed to do. But how far have we come?<\/p>\n Here we are in 2025, a decade later. The world of agriculture advocacy looks vastly different. The community of advocates is much larger<\/strong>, and the conversations happen across more platforms than we could have imagined in 2015.<\/p>\n 1. Individual Voices Have Flourished<\/strong> 2. More Conversations, Fewer Monologues<\/strong> 3. A Broader Reach<\/strong> 4. Empathy Takes the Lead<\/strong> 1. The Pressure to Perform<\/strong> 2. Burnout is a Bigger Risk Than Ever<\/strong>![\"2015](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/beefrunner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/i-want-to-see-a-laptop-sitting-on-a-rock-2.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nThe Big Advocacy Themes of 2015<\/h2>\n
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The Top Advocacy Stories I Covered in 2015<\/h2>\n
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\n2025: A Bigger Stage, Bigger Opportunities, and Bigger Challenges<\/h2>\n
How is Agriculture Advocacy Better Today?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
In 2015, our messaging often echoed corporate talking points. Today, advocates have discovered their unique voices<\/strong>, adapting those messages and building trust through personal stories and creative content. Tools like Instagram Reels<\/strong>, TikTok<\/strong>, and podcasts<\/strong> allow advocates to share their stories in ways that resonate deeply.<\/p>\n
Back then, social media often felt like a broadcast stage \u2013 a place to post and walk away. Today, advocacy thrives in conversations<\/strong> as a constant piece of our daily lives. Live Q&A sessions, interactive stories, and short-form videos create space for dialogue, not just monologues.<\/p>\n
Where Facebook and Twitter once dominated, advocates are now reaching audiences on TikTok<\/strong>, Instagram<\/strong>, LinkedIn<\/strong>, and even YouTube Shorts<\/strong> and streaming services. The toolbox is larger, and the audience is more diverse.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve learned that patience and understanding<\/strong> build far more bridges than frustration and defensiveness. More advocates today respond with kindness, even in the face of criticism or tough questions.<\/p>\n
\nBut There Are Still Challenges<\/h2>\n
In 2015, virality often happened by chance \u2013 a timely blog post or an honest Facebook video catching fire. Today, the pursuit of virality can overshadow authenticity<\/strong>. The pressure to constantly create polished, engaging content is real and it\u2019s exhausting.<\/p>\n
More platforms, more content, and higher expectations have made advocacy more demanding<\/strong>. Burnout isn\u2019t just a risk. It\u2019s something many advocates actively fight against.<\/p>\n
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