10: Agritourism, Working with a Marketing Agency & Personal Brands
In Episode 10 of Raising the Barn, we’re talking with Brandon and Sarah Bowers of Bowers Farm in Pomeria, SC - a small town of about 150 people near Newberry. The farmland has been in Brandon’s family for over 75 years, and since 2014, they have strived to take care of the farm from soil up and help their community know where their food comes from and how its raised.
Some of the questions we chat about:
As marketers, we often talk about the importance of finding your why and letting that be the driver of how you run your business. Bowers Farm worked with a local marketing agency to help them develop the pillars for their mission and then revamp their website and implement some marketing strategies to share that mission. How did they know it was time to go from DIYing their marketing strategy and enlist the help of a marketing agency?
What were some of their biggest takeaways from working with local marketing agency, EMILY: Revolutionary Marketing?
What advice would they give to farmers who are thinking about hiring some outside marketing help?
What are the core pillars that they came up with for Bowers Farm and why they’re important?
How are they using those pillars to tell the story of Bowers Farm?
On their farm, they raise a variety of livestock, including cows, sheep, goats, turkeys, rabbits, ducks, pigs, and both meat and egg-producing chickens. But they also have several other offerings and experiences ranging from Farm Stays, to Farm Camp and Farm Tours. How did they go about adding agritourism to their farm?
Has agritourism impacted other areas of their business?
In addition to their farm’s instagram page, Sarah has built her own personal brand under the account, Reluctant Farmer’s Wife. How is the content that she shares on this page different from the content they share on their farm account?
Where do she get inspiration from for her content?
Something we hear from farmers is that it’s hard to find time to create content for social media. What advice do they have for those folks who want to grow their online presence, but don’t feel like they have enough hours in the day?
What’s on the Bowers Farm marketing plan for 2024?
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Mentioned in this episode:
https://www.instagram.com/bowersfarmsc/
https://www.instagram.com/reluctantfarmerswife/
https://www.lakeshorefamilycampground.com/
https://www.ermarketinggroup.com/
Episode Sponsors:
Visit York County - The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is back in York County, SC! Join us for this FREE, family-friendly event—a self-guided tour showcasing 25 farms with artisans at every stop. Experience first-hand where your food comes from, witness and shop from artisans in action, enjoy local musicians, and learn about the importance of supporting our local farms! You don’t want to miss this unique event, so mark your calendars for June 8th-9th! Visit agandarttour.com/york to learn more.