August 2023 - 26

GREAT LAKES EXPO
CONNECTING GROWERS
Through the Digital Market Space
Great Lakes EXPO to feature " Fancy Lady Cowgirl " Courtenay DeHoff.
BY MADI SCHAFER
T
o maintain a thriving business, growers and farm
marketers have a number of resources available to
them: social media, trade shows, trade publications
and - especially - fellow growers. During the 2023 Great
Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO, growers will
learn the importance of utilizing the digital market space,
how farm markets are beneficial to agriculture and why
people should attend roundtables during trade shows.
Courtenay DeHoff, keynote speaker, network television
personality and cowgirl, has a passion for agriculture
and has taught thousands of people in the industry the
importance of sharing their stories to " bridge the disconnect
between rural and urban communities. " With a notable skill
set in editing, producing and shooting high-quality content,
Dehoff embraces her cowgirl roots and stands out in the
world of " cookie-cutter, on-camera personalities. "
During DeHoff's presentation at Great Lakes EXPO,
" Storytelling in agriculture: Develop a voice that shifts
narratives, " attendees will gain insight and direction into
personal branding and how to expand their business
through the power of social media, websites and more.
" I want people to walk away from my presentation
feeling like they can tackle the digital space - whether it's
social media, websites or digital other platforms, they are
so crucial to your business, " she said.
DeHoff will focus on the power of personal branding and
how it can grow businesses exponentially.
" I'm going to blow open the doors on what a personal
brand is and how people can use it to get their business
out there, " DeHoff said. " I want people to feel comfortable
utilizing this digital space because the great thing about it
is that it's free. "
Creating social media accounts to connect businesses
with the right audience is crucial and DeHoff expresses
that anyone can do it - bringing endless opportunities
for success.
DeHoff's personal brand, Fancy Lady Cowgirl, " celebrates
women from all walks of life and teaches them to lean
into their true identity to reach new levels of success and
fulfillment. " She is a recognized face in the media and is a
motivational speaker across the country. She has a passion
to give prominence and a voice to the agriculture community.
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AUGUST 2023 GPNMAG.COM
With over 250 thousand followers across Linkedin, Facebook,
Instagram and TikTok, DeHoff utilizes her storytelling skills
to prove that being a cowgirl isn't in the way you look, where
you live or the lifestyle you create - it's a state of mind.
THE BENEFITS OF FARM MARKETING AND
AGRITOURISM
Another opportunity within the agriculture industry
is farm markets. Beth Hubbard, board member of the
Michigan State Horticulture Society, has her own farm
market and understands the importance of them.
" One of the benefits of farm markets is the ability to
grow and sell your own products all in one place, " Hubbard
said. " When the farm and the market are together, so you
can connect the public to the farm. People can learn how
things are grown and have a unique great experience on
the farm. "
HOW ROUNDTABLES CAN GROW YOUR
BUSINESS AND KNOWLEDGE
Roundtables are another great way to grow and learn
more about farm marketing and agritourism. Hubbard
encourages attendees to stop by roundtables to get a more
personal connection with others at the show.
" When you attend a roundtable it's a smaller group of
people and it's more informal. You'll meet people who
are very passionate about that particular topic, " Hubbard
said. " People are there to help, talk and share their own
experiences. It's a great way to meet people who have
related interests. You'll often find people exchanging
business cards and information and following up later. "
Hubbard loves attending Great Lakes EXPO because
of all the opportunities it brings including, meeting and
networking with new people, learning new things and
experiencing the world of agriculture.
" I find that EXPO is always a good time to experience
more educational opportunities, meet new vendors, walk
the trade show and discover new things that you could use
on your farm or in your market, " Hubbard said.
Learn more about Courtenay DeHoff's session and others
at glexpo.com. The 2023 Great Lakes EXPO will be held Dec.
5-7 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
http://www.glexpo.com http://www.GPNMAG.COM
August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023
