Social media boot camp planned for ranchers, farmers to tell their stories

Social media offers the best and worst examples of Internet marketing, and successful businesses know the rules.

Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute offers a Social Media Boot Camp for Farms & Ranches workshop on April 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at WNC Fallon Campus, 160 Campus Way. Cost is $25 for those registering by April 18, $35 afterward. Lunch is included.

Attendees will learn how to use social media to tell their farm or ranch story and attract new customers. Computers will be available, and smartphones are welcome at this hands-on workshop. In addition to learning the basics of the most popular social networking sites, students will learn how to manage content to increase followers, how to navigate social media on smartphones, and how to measure the effectiveness of their efforts.

Social media experts from the award-winning Abbi Agency will facilitate the hands-on workshop. With more than 15 years experience, the agency is familiar and actively involved with several agricultural marketing projects in Northern Nevada.

The WNC Specialty Crop Institute is an innovative program to provide training for Nevada’s high desert farms and ranches. Funding for this project is provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Online registration is available at www.wnc.edu/sci. For information, contact Ann Louhela at 775-423-7565 Ext. 2260 or ann.louhela@wnc.edu.