Working Hard Ground: Navigating Challenges to Better Agriculture

Today’s agricultural landscape is filled with complex challenges and increasing uncertainty. Building trust between farmers and agricultural professionals has never been more important.

Join farmer, facilitator, and leadership coach Ryan Erisman for an interactive workshop exploring the human side of agricultural change. Through engaging discussions and practical exercises, participants will gain new tools for building trust, improving communication, navigating uncertainty, and supporting meaningful change within agriculture.

Workshop topics include:

Understanding behavioral drivers and resistance to change
Managing uncertainty in agricultural systems
Active listening and building trust
The role of middle adopters in driving change
Managing personal energy while supporting others
Rethinking the question: “How do we get farmers to do ___?”

This workshop is designed for agricultural and conservation professionals, nonprofit staff, researchers, technical assistance providers, ag business professionals, and farmer leaders looking to strengthen their ability to work effectively with farmers and communities.