We’re not just farmers; we’re people who eat

Andy Goodman, an expert in public interest communications, drew me in to his newsletter with this headline: What all good stories have in common. I’m a seeker — and, hopefully, a writer — of good stories, so thought this to be a must-read. It was.

In his recent newsletter, Goodman shares Brian McDonald’s thoughts on “The Golden Theme.” McDonald teaches screenwriting and storytelling. He asserts in his book of the same name that all good stories have this  main message: We are all the same.

McDonald’s theme has been sloshing around in my brain. It’s settled on how I share agriculture’s story. Perhaps I’ve been doing it all wrong. I’ve been telling stories from a farm family’s point of view. Here’s what we plant, how we plant it, why we plant it. Here’s the livestock we raise, how we raise it, why we raise it. Because I told you that, you should care about agriculture.

Who can relate, except maybe other farm families? Instead, I should focus on what we all have in common. Very few of us are farmers and many could care less if they ever step foot on a farm. However, we do all eat. We do all want safe, healthy and delicious food.

As one eater to another, that’s exactly why I’ll continue sharing stories from the farm,  keeping that golden theme in mind.