Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Miller.
Hi Michelle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the city and went to design school in LA; I was once even an anti-GMO activist. And then when I was living in Pensacola, I met a farmer there who was on vacation and we ended up dating. I left my big city dreams and moved to his farm in Iowa, starting my own sheep business and helping him with his cattle and crop operations. As I interacted with the agriculture industry more and more, I started to realize how much misinformation was being spread online and even in person between friends and families. I started the Farm Babe Facebook to get the positive messages and frankly the truth about agriculture to as many people as possible. The Facebook page has grown to over 191 thousand followers, and I have expanded to other social platforms, public speaking engagements, and writing featured columns for a multitude of magazines and trade journals. I have moved away from that Iowa farm, but I continue to educate on agriculture and the importance of spreading the truth.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Being a public figure is no easy task; every aspect of your life is judged, and there are many people who hide behind the walls of social media and say some pretty nasty things. You certainly see the ‘other side’ of people when your life is visible for all online. Overall, I have been happy with my journey and where it has gotten me today. I have some amazing people along the way and learned more than I ever imagined about how our food is produced from farm to table.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
As an influencer, public speaker, columnist, and many other vocations, I am always on the road. It is my job to travel around the country and even the world (I have been to all 7 continents!) and learn from others about the agriculture they are involved in. I take the information I learn and expose the public to various agricultural entities. I think I am a bit set apart from other agriculture influencers because I do not have an active farm at home. Rather than telling about my particular industry, I am educating on everyone else’s industries; this gives me a unique opportunity to share a vast amount of information on agriculture, the environment, current issues, and much more.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Always have a backup plan! As someone who travels professionally, the pandemic really set me back as speaking engagements were cancelled, flights delayed or cancelled, business opportunities crashing, and of course, everyone you are supposed to meet that week comes down with Covid! I learned how crucial it is to have a backup plan that you can shift to and adapt as needed to get things accomplished. In my case, it was pivoting to online engagements, pre-recorded speeches, and operating on little to no sleep!
Contact Info:
- Website: thefarmbabe.com
- Instagram: @thefarmbabe
- Facebook: @IowaFarmBabe
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefarmbabe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/thefarmbabe
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/TheFarmBabe
