Inspiring Rural Communities - Mikayla Connelly

I’m Mikayla Connelly, a new Farm Bureau member from Valier, Montana. I grew up on

my family’s farm and ranch and continue to help my family with marketing, primarily for

our annual bull sale. My full-time occupation is as the social media specialist at Montana

FWP. Through both my upbringing in agriculture and my current career in

communications, I have developed a strong connection to Farm Bureau.

A close friend of mine recommended the program to me. When she explained the

professional development opportunities it could provide for my communications career, I

was immediately interested. At the same time, the program offered me an opportunity to

reconnect with the agriculture community and become more involved, which was equally

important to me.

One of my leadership goals is to inspire people in my rural community to get involved

with organizations like Farm Bureau and to lead by example. I want to show others that if

we want to see change, we can’t just talk about it with friends over coffee, we have to

organize, take action, and make the right connections to effectively advocate for

ourselves and our communities.

One current issue I see is the perception of farmers and ranchers among members of

the general public. ACE has prepared me with tools to effectively communicate the true

values of the agriculture community and help those who may be disconnected from

agriculture recognize that we share many of the same goals and values, particularly

when it comes to healthy food, conservation, and responsible land stewardship.

I would like to use my new skills to help others advocate for themselves and their

businesses while growing and thriving in their communities. One strength I can lean into

is my knack for communication and inclusion. If I can help others develop those skills

into strategies that strengthen their businesses and communities, that would be

incredibly fulfilling to me. Rural communities have so much to offer, and I want to help

them connect with today’s world in effective and positive ways.

The world is an ever-changing place, and increased connectivity has accelerated

communication and, as a result, the speed at which perceptions can form. That can lead

to uninformed decision-making. Farmers and ranchers need to lead, or at the very least

participate, in these conversations. If we don’t show up, decisions will be made about our

backyards by people who have never walked them and know very little about the

beautiful lives we live