Welcome to Engage!

You’re here – welcome!

I’m Gracie Pierson, Consumer Engagement Manager at Illinois Farm Bureau. Also on the team is Jacey Yahne, IFB Consumer Engagement Coordinator. Together, we serve county Farm Bureaus and members on everything consumer engagement – from new research and insights into consumer audiences, resources to utilize on social media or at your next in-person event, and training opportunities to become better communicators.

Engage is a new opportunity for our team at Illinois Farm Bureau to share consumer engagement insights, resources, and training experiences with Illinois farmers and agriculturalists who want to become more active sharing about their agricultural experiences through social media and in-person engagement opportunities. Engage is the starting point – somewhere to house all of these resources. We are also launching the Creator Cultivation Series through Engage. The Creator Cultivation Series is a year-long experience designed for farmers and agriculturalists who are eager to become more active sharing their perspective and engaging on social media to promote Illinois agriculture. Participants will learn how to:

• Establish an online brand
• Find the right niche that aligns with their interests and experience
• Create content that resonates with their audience
• Edit photos and videos for social media
• Engage in productive online conversations about food and agriculture

So why Engage and why now?

Consumer engagement isn’t new. IFB has been involved in formal consumer engagement efforts since 2010, with the launch of the Illinois Farm Families (IFF) coalition, a partnership of farmer-led organizations in Illinois. (If you’re not familiar, Illinois Farm Families focuses on reaching Chicagoland parents ages 24-39 through online and in-person efforts to build trust in Illinois farmers and their farming practices.) Through IFF research, we have confirmed what we’ve always suspected: people want to hear directly from farmers, finding them to be the one of the most authentic voices when it comes to conversations about growing and raising food and how farming affects the environment.

Simply put – we need more farmer voices. There’s an adage ‘if you’re not at the table, you’re on the table.’ Discussions about food and farming are happening whether we’re participating or not. Some of the most common barriers we hear from farmers is that they don’t have the time or aren’t sure where to find those conversations or are hesitant to join the conversation because they don’t want to say the wrong thing. We’ve come a long way since the early days of formal consumer engagement efforts, and we hope that Engage can empower those new to the scene while amplifying existing voices.

What Engage has to offer

We like to say that there is an opportunity for every personality. Engagement is happening at formal in-person events (like those coordinated by your county Farm Bureau), in informal conversations with friends and family, through active dialogue on social media, and by simply sharing day-to-day life on the farm on social media. Whether you’re a social butterfly looking for those in-person opportunities or someone who prefers to engage from the smartphone screen, Engage seeks to provide insights and resources to support and amplify your unique perspective.

Be sure to check out our resources page for downloadable PDFs to print and share at your next event or search for social media graphics to share on your public page or personal profile.

Interested in more training as you build your social media presence? Apply for the Creator Cultivation Series!

If you’re curious about the topics we’re following, join us at the Consumer Trends Workshop on January 7, 2026, in Bloomington.

We’re just getting started and are excited for what’s to come with Engage in 2026. Bookmark this website – ILFarmersEngage.com – and check back regularly for new resources and updates on trending topics, consumer research, and actionable prompts as you find your seat at the table. Together, we’ll add more authentic voices to the conversation as we seek to build trust in Illinois farmers and their farming practices.

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