I borrowed this post from Chuck Zimmerman of World Dairy Diary. He covered Global Dairy 500 last week and posted this interview with Carl Chaney of Chaney's Dairy Barn.

Photo: Chuck Zimmerman

At the beginning of the Alltech Global 500 I participated in a presentation on social media and I've been overhearing farmers talking about how to use it for their farm. During a discussion dinner last night I met a dairy farmer who has been using it to drive business on his farm. He's a great example for all farmers. He's Carl Chaney (left in photo) and you can find his farm online at Chaney's Dairy Barn.

Carl has a great story which I recorded this morning. Basically, his family operation decided to take control of their own destiny and diversify into processing their own milk, making their own ice cream and creating an agri-tourism component of their farm. So over the last couple years they have been using a website and now Facebook and Twitter to promote their business and Carl says they have direct evidence of how it has helped. This use of social media has helped them stay in the dairy business after they were considering getting out.

Besides driving business Carl says they are also helping educate consumers about where their food comes from. Sounds like he could be on the board of the AgChat Foundation! The farm conducts tours with a growing number of area schools. You'll hear the pride in his voice when he sees kids marvel over a new calf or seeing a milking parlor in action.

You can listen to my interview with Carl here: Interview with Carl Chaney