Becoming a Media Advocate

Training and Empowering Agricultural Advocates to Engage with Media

On December 15th, we’ll be in Whatcom County!

Public perception shapes policy. Policy shapes regulation. Regulation determines whether family farms survive.

That is the reality facing Washington agriculture today. Too often, decisions about farming are driven by narratives shaped by people far removed from the land. This event exists to change that.

On December 15, 2026, Save Family Farming will host a full-day training event designed to equip farmers and agricultural advocates with the skills, confidence, and tools needed to engage effectively with the media and the public.

This is practical, hands-on training for real-world moments when farming needs strong, credible voices at the table.

FAQ

Participants will receive practical instruction and guided practice on how to:

  • Handle calls and interview requests from journalists and media outlets
  • Know when and how to engage publicly
  • Deliver clear, confident messages in media interviews and panel discussions
  • Use story and emotion to connect with public audiences without sacrificing facts
  • Navigate tough questions and correct misinformation effectively
  • Communicate data, values, and lived experience with credibility

The focus is simple. Help farmers speak for themselves, on their own terms.

When an issue hits the news and a reporter calls for comment, the window to influence public opinion is small. Knowing what to say, how to say it, and when to engage can make the difference between being heard or being misrepresented.

In today’s media environment, farmers are not just interviewees. They are characters in a bigger story. Those who learn to tell their stories well can shape how the public understands agriculture for years to come.

This training is built for that reality.

By the end of the day, you will leave with:

  • Greater confidence in public communication
  • Clear messaging tools you can use immediately
  • A stronger understanding of how media works
  • Connections with other farm advocates committed to shaping the public narrative

This is about building a more unified, informed, and effective agricultural voice across Washington state.

This training is designed for:

  • Farmers and ranchers
  • Agricultural leaders and advocates
  • Farm organization members
  • Anyone willing to speak publicly and responsibly on behalf of agriculture

If you believe farmers should be shaping the conversation about farming, food, and land stewardship, this event is for you.

WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW MUCH

Tuesday, December 15 @

9:00am – 4:00pm

Rustler’s Front Street Grill Private Dining Hall
405 Front Street, Lynden, WA 98264

$99 – This includes materials, lunch, and refreshments

$130 – Price increases after December 5

Agenda

Presenters

Gerald Baron

Gerald Baron’s varied career includes teaching, publishing, writing, and consulting. He founded or co-founded several companies, including DIS Corporation, Baron&Company, and PIER Systems, a crisis communication technology firm. He was also the founding Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers and Save Family Farming. He is the author of three military history books and is working on a fourth. Married for 53 years, he and his wife Lynne have three children, nine grandchildren, and a granddaughter-in-law.

Dillon Honcoop

Dillon Honcoop is Communications Director for Save Family Farming and Whatcom Family Farmers, a position he took in 2017 after over a decade in news media. Honcoop grew up on a Whatcom County red raspberry farm, and brings his passion for farming as well as strong public communications and advocacy to the role. He currently hosts The Farming Show radio show and podcasts, and coordinates with major news outlets across Washington state to bring broad attention to Save Family Farming’s strong advocacy voice.

Ben Tindall

Ben is the Executive Director of Save Family Farming. His background spans the political arena, where he served on the staff of federal and state legislators in both Texas and Washington and worked on numerous campaigns. He also spent four years leading a homeless shelter in central Texas with a focus on reducing homelessness, addressing food insecurity and expanding access to healthcare. In 2019 he joined the Washington State Farm Bureau as part of their Governmental Affairs team. Since 2024 he has led Save Family Farming with the goal of building it into one of the most reliable and effective communications and advocacy organizations working on agriculture in Washington. Ben has been quoted by outlets across the state as well as The Seattle Times, Newsweek and USA Today.

Together, we can strengthen farm voices, correct the record, and build the public support family farming needs to survive and thrive in Washington state.

COUNTDOWN TO EVENT!
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