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Mulberry Lane Farm. Where learning is fun!. Things you’ll learn while on your tour…. You can tell the color of the egg a hen will lay by the color of her earlobe. White earlobe - white egg Red earlobe - brown egg.
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Mulberry Lane Farm Where learning is fun!
Things you’ll learn while on your tour… • You can tell the color of the egg a hen will lay by the color of her earlobe. • White earlobe - white egg • Red earlobe - brown egg
It takes 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days for a sow to have her litter of piglets. • And many farmers add, 3 in the morning!
Speckles & Freckles • You’ll meet Freckles our freemartin heifer. • A sterile or otherwise sexually imperfect female calf born as the twin of a bull calf • There is over a 90% chance the female heifer will be sterile never being able to grow up and become a cow (have a calf) • The male twin may have a reduction in fertility. Speckles & Freckles
Mission Statement To provide an ideal country learning environment where people of all ages can interact and learn about farm animals through ‘hands-on’ guided tours.
2007 Census of Agriculture “A long term trend observed is the aging of farm operators…the fastest growing group of farm operators is those 65 years and older.” "Who will replace our aging farmers?"
Wisconsin State Farmer May 30, 2008 (section C, pg1) "young people today are further removed from agriculture and many of them no longer have grandparents or relatives to visit on a farm. They depend on school tours to farms to learn about agriculture."
The Green Meadows Farm -Mulberry Lane Farm Connection Patrick Waterford WI Kissimmee FL Queens NY Hazlet NJ Jessup MD Grand Prairie TX Sherwood WI Closed Wheaton IL Orange CA +2 born after 1964
3 miles East of Sherwood on County Road B Drawing mainly from Outagamie, Calumet, Winnebago, Fond du Lac & Brown Counties
Mulberry Lane FarmEstablished 2005 - Patrick, Bonnie & Coni Keyes
Education Partnering w/Social Media • Our mission to educate doesn’t end when our guests leave the farm • We continue through social media outlets • And while doing so, grow our business
Education Partnering w/Social Media • As a business owner, I understand that social media is a tool to be used to better my business. • #1 advantage – Marketing is only costing me my time. • No time? No excuse. Check within your staff or hire out. It’s that important.
Why I’m such a supporter of fb? • I’m cheap! • Saved our business!
Education Partnering w/Social Media • My strategy is to focus on fb. • fb can be used directly or indirectly. • Post a blog, link it to fb. • Post a tweet, link it to fb. • Post a new video on youtube, link it to fb.
fb is a prime example of Education and Social Media partnering at the farm.
The Rule of Seven • Marketing must be an on-going process in order for it to be successful • Frequency is key & repetition is considered necessary • The Rule of Seven is that ppl must see something 7X before it takes hold • With social media you don’t have to pay! You can post your message 100+ times.
The Rule of Seven • The Rule of Seven is why “information marketing” is so effective. By providing free information to your prospects on a regular basis, you are building a solid relationship. • Information offered in a newsletter or blog doesn’t set off alarms because it’s not a sales pitch; it’s a genuine attempt to educate and help.
Odds & Ends & Take-Aways • Local TV stations, radio stations, newspapers have free community calendars – use them! • Numerous free internet listings available • My favorite NAFDMA take-away • Have Fun!
Is your paid marketing measurable? • IF and when I do paid advertising, it’s always in the form of a coupon so I can measure it’s effectiveness
Capitalize! when listing website & email. www.mulberrylanefarmwi.com www.MulberryLaneFarmWI.com mulberrylanefarm@yahoo.com MulberryLaneFarm@yahoo.com
In Conclusion… • Marketing no longer needs to cost tons of money • Don’t try to do everything at once because marketing requires a consistent effort • Pick ONE form of social media. • Master it. Then move on as you become comfortable with it
Education Partnering w/Social Media You’re GREAT! Seriously. You Are. You’re an expert at what you do, so tell the world about it.