By Scout Nelson
Lily Krona, a recent addition to “The Herd” program, is using her social media platform to provide an authentic perspective on the world of agriculture.
A Bemidji High School graduate, Krona aims to tour farms around Minnesota and highlight them on her social media pages. “I want to give people the real picture of what a farm is like,” she shared.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s The Herd program, now in its second year, selects young adults aged 18 to 23 to educate the public about agriculture through social media.
Krona’s involvement in agricultural clubs, leadership, and curriculum writing has prepared her well for this role. She is eager to use her platform to showcase the positive aspects of agriculture.
“The Minnesota Farm Bureau has started this program for college-age students to help them showcase agriculture in a positive light using social media,” Krona said. “We’re trying to spread more positivity on agriculture and show the real picture of it.”
When Krona learned about the Bureau's interest in a collegiate program, she quickly joined and helped start the first collegiate program in Crookston, Minnesota.
Krona is one of four selected participants, along with Aly Dieball, Katelyn Kobbermann, and Mary Lanoue. They meet monthly via Zoom to discuss their posts and progress.
“We get together to talk about what we have learned,” Krona said. “We will meet with other agricultural representatives who work on social media from around the country. Hopefully, throughout the year we’ll get advice on how to grow our pages.”
Members of The Herd use their platforms to showcase their love of agriculture, gaining educational experiences, networking, and learning from professionals.
Krona aims to educate the public about agriculture's diverse aspects. “Agriculture entails so much,” she explained. “All of the clothes you wear, the food you eat, everything in your life is based around agriculture.”
Krona is a senior at the University of Minnesota - Crookston, majoring in agricultural education. She serves in multiple leadership positions on campus, including president of the collegiate Farm Bureau and co-president of UMC Arama. She organizes events, hosts meetings, and creates new ideas to engage students.
Krona is exploring various career paths within agriculture, including becoming a high school agriculture teacher, an extension educator in a 4-H program, or working for the Farm Bureau. “It’s important to make sure that the public is more informed,” she said. “That’s why I’m excited about The Herd, so I can showcase my love of agriculture.”
Krona's passion for agriculture includes correcting misconceptions about farming. “There’s a lot of the misconception that farmers don’t treat their animals right,” she said. “But in reality, if the farmers don’t treat their animals right, they’re not going to perform or produce anything.”
In 2018 and 2019, Krona participated in the 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge with Team Future Generation, winning first place at state both years. Their projects included developing curriculum on GMOs and gene editing for young students, reaching over 800 students.
Krona credits Ann Marie Ward, a former Extension Educator in Beltrami County, for inspiring her career path and confidence.
“She inspired me to do so many things,” Krona said. “The Herd program is something she told me I should try, and now that I’m doing it I’m really enjoying it. I owe everything to her.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-nicexray
Categories: Minnesota, Education