Miranda Olagaray’s agricultural insight started at a very young age growing up in the Zinfandel capital, Lodi, California. Being brought up within a farming family she was given the opportunity to be immersed in agriculture the way most don’t. Between raising animals for the fair, helping out the family business whenever she could, and taking FFA classes throughout high school, she gained a passion for agriculture. This passion grew when studying business marketing at Sonoma State University. Many of her marketing classes focused on the wine industry. This allowed her to evolve her agricultural background, creativity, and analytical thinking into marketing skills. Having gained her business marketing degree she is now able to combine her knowledge and enthusiasm as our Social Media Manager at Farmers Communication Exchange. In this role, Miranda uses her voice to help share farmers’ stories and promote California’s commodities. She strives to educate the public on the important role that farmers and agriculture play in California. Storytelling, photography, and design are just some contributors to her creative personality. Along with agriculture, she has a love for horseback riding, the outdoors, and cooking.
contact: Marilyn Freeman Dolan phone: (916) 441-1064
Sacramento, Calif – Farmers Communication Exchange is proud to welcome Mackenzie Bressler as the firm’s new Digital Media Coordinator. Mackenzie is a recent Agricultural Communications graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
“Our firm continues to grow since opening its doors in January. We welcome Mackenzie to our team of experienced and talented employees,” said owner Marilyn Freeman Dolan. ” I’m especially pleased to be bringing on a graduate from the Ag Communications Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, since I’m a graduate from there as well.”
Farmers Communication Exchange is a public relations and social media firm specializing in working with California commodity groups and associations. The company offers a host of services including strategic messaging, issues management, digital media and content development for websites and social media.
Dolan’s new firm specializes in working with California commodity groups and associations offering a host of services including strategic messaging, issues management, digital media and content development for websites and social media.
Mackenzie will work primarily with the commodity groups and associations on their weekly newsletters as well as assisting with the implementation of social media activities and monitoring media channels on behalf of clients. In addition to the weekly newsletters and social media activity, Mackenzie will develop blogs and website content by creating ‘Meet the Farmer” profiles, which tell stories about our clients.”
Mackenzie is a Sacramento Valley native from Colusa, CA. Growing up in the rural agricultural town allowed Mackenzie to be involved in a variety of different organizations and pursue her passion for agriculture. While attending Cal Poly, Mackenzie gained experience from various internships and developed her skills in writing, photography and design.
“I hope to utilize my passion for the industry, experiences growing up in the livestock and grain industries, and knowledge from the Agricultural Education and Communications Department to join the Farmers Communication Exchange to continue sharing the stories of farmers through creative communication,” said Bressler.
Mackenzie joins the Farmers Communication Exchange team alongside owner Dolan, Creative Director, Holly Klein, and Brand Director, Joy Rust. “I am excited to join the Farmers Communication Exchange and continue to learn from a team of experienced professionals on effective and meaningful communication,” said Bressler.
For more information on the Farmers Communication Exchange or to get in contact with the firm visit www.farmerscommunication.exchange.
Prior to serving as the creative director at Farmers Communication Exchange, Joy oversaw the marketing and branding department of a natural foods grocery store in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois. She brings with her years of experience helping farmers and food suppliers creatively share their unique stories. Joy also worked at CDS Consulting Co-op as a marketing and branding consultant advising food co-ops across the country on strategies to enhance their marketing programs. Joy is always ready to try something new whether it be crafting an innovative promotional campaign or white water rafting down the American River. Joy’s sharp graphic design and photography abilities allow her to develop stunning multimedia promotions for clients, taking complex ideas and simplifying the message to motivate audiences. She has a fierce aversion to settling on mediocrity and a passion for brand development. Joy has a Bachelor’s degree in tourism management from Indiana University.
Marilyn Freeman, owner of Farmers Communications Exchange, has worked in the field of agricultural communications and marketing for over 35 years. From 2003 through 2016, Marilyn was a partner in The Communications Department, Inc., a public relations and issues management firm headquartered in Watsonville, CA. It was in college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo that Marilyn developed a passion for sharing information about farming. Since then, she has worked for some of the oldest and best-known companies in California agriculture including: Diamond Walnut, Sunsweet Growers, Sun-Maid, Blue Anchor, Inc. and the California Tree Fruit Agreement. She is the former executive director of the Alliance for Food and Farming and a past recipient of CAPCA’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture’ Award for her work on a program called Spray Safe. Marilyn currently serves as the public member of the U.S. Potato Board. A native Californian, she lives in Lodi with her 17-year-old daughter Cate.
Sacramento, CA — Marilyn Freeman Dolan, former Executive Director of the Alliance for Food and Farming, has launched a new public relations and social media firm specializing in helping farmers tell their unique stories. The firm is called Farmers Communication Exchange LLC.
“After 13 years as co-owner of The Communications Department, Inc, another public relations and issues management agency, it was time to create something new,” said Dolan. So, she left the PR agency which formerly managed the Alliance for Food and Farming and relinquished her position as the Alliance’s Executive Director to became the sole proprietor of Farmers Communication Exchange, headquartered in Sacramento, CA.
“I have the deepest appreciation for the Alliance for Food and Farming Management Board who allowed me to work for them over the past 13 years,” said Dolan. “We accomplished a great deal during that time – particularly with the Safe Fruits and Veggies Initiative. I will always consider the successes achieved by the Alliance as some of the most important of my career. I wish them continued success.”
Dolan’s new firm specializes in working with California commodity groups and associations offering a host of services including strategic messaging, issues management, digital media and content development for websites and social media.
“Although Farmers Communication Exchange is new, we have an experienced and talented staff with the ability to use all communications tools available to tell our clients’ stories in ways that deliver results,” said Dolan.
“What we offer is the perfect combination of experience and fresh ideas. With over 30 years of experience in agricultural communications and marketing, I have a good understanding of the challenges faced by farmers. Meanwhile, our young and talented staff members are part of today’s generation of consumers who have a desire to connect with their food.”
In addition to Dolan, the Farmers Communication Exchange team includes Holly Klein, who was also formerly employed by The Communications Department, Inc., and Joy Rust who joined the company in September. Several of The Communications Department’s former clients have also moved to the new firm and include: Ag Association Management Services, Inc; California Carrot Advisory Board; California Cantaloupe Advisory Board; California Grain and Feed Association; California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement; California Pear Advisory Board; and Olive Oil Commission of California.
Dolan explains the name Farmers Communication Exchange harkens back to the days when marketing firms like the California Fruit Growers Exchange (now Sunkist) shipped fruit packed in wooden crates with brightly-colored labels to auctions on the East Coast.
“Those bright labels told the stories of the farmers who grew the produce inside each crate. Back then, those labels were the only way growers had to communicate with their customers,” explains Dolan. “Today, mass marketing and social media allow farmers to share their stories and exchange information with a much wider audience and in more detail than ever before.”
Dolan encourages anyone interested to visit their new website at www.farmerscommunication.exchange for more information about the company, its work and staff. For more detailed information and case studies, please contact them directly at hello@farmerscommunication.exchange.
Left to right: Marilyn Dolan, Holly Klein, Joy Rust
