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About
Journalist, broadcaster, and media expert
Andy began his career in farm media as a college intern at ABN Radio in Columbus, Ohio. Soon after, he became one of the youngest farm broadcasters in the country when he was named Farm Director at WRFD-AM. Andy was part of the team that launched the Buckeye Ag Radio Network and was lead anchor at ABN Radio for several years prior to joining Feedstuffs. In 2010, Andy made the transition to print media when he joined the staff of the nation’s leading weekly agribusiness journal, Feedstuffs, as a contributor and blogger. Today, in addition to his writing, broadcasting and speaking, Andy designs multi-platform campaigns for advertisers reaching an agricultural audience via Feedstuffs, National Hog Farmer, and BEEF Magazine.Industry leader
Andy has served the food and agricultural industry in many capacities, beginning with his term as an Ohio FFA Association state officer as a young adult. Since then, he has served on the boards of directors for the National AgriMarketing Association, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio FFA Foundation. In addition to earning the Horizon Award from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, he was named the 2010 Excellence in Agriculture honoree by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and was recognized as one of 10 national finalists by the American Farm Bureau Federation.Ohio State Buckeye
A graduate of The Ohio State University, Andy is an avid Buckeye fan. Amid his blog posts on food, agriculture, and consumer issue perspectives, he also enjoys writing about Ohio State football, the university, and most Buckeye-related topics.Suburban family guy
Andy lives outside Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and daughter. His suburban digs are a change from the family farm where he spent his childhood, but the change of scenery has provided him with an incredible depth of understanding on the varied and constantly-varying perspectives of consumers. A closet “foodie,” Andy keeps one eye on the current trends in food marketing and the culinary landscape. Yes, he shops at Whole Foods…from time to time…and he joined a CSA. -
Video Clips
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Topics
MARKET OUTLOOK IN THE ERA OF GLOBAL TRADE
From drought-decimated grain stocks to bin-busting crops, the grain and feed market forecast has changed dramatically over the past few seasons. Longtime Feedstuffs markets editor Andy Vance takes a deeper look at the ingredients of today’s market outlook for both the grain and livestock sectors. Andy describes the geopolitics and international dynamics at work in today’s truly global market, and illustrates the present trends affecting your farm or organization. You will walk away with an ability to identify the current major themes in the markets and learn to discern the key macro themes at play beyond your own marketing strategy.
AG AND TRADE POLICY IN THE TRUMP ERA
Behind the soap-opera of modern politics and the hubbub of “fake news” lies policy, the gears that actually make the agricultural world turn. Andy describes the geopolitics and international dynamics at work in today’s global market, and how ag policy interests and prospects fare midway through the first Trump Administration. You will walk away with a deeper understanding of the major themes in the next Farm Bill, the latest implications of the Trump Doctrine on agricultural trade, and what it means for your business.
FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS: FEEDING A WORLD WHERE EMOTION TRUMPS SCIENCE
Blog entries, Facebook updates, Tweets, Instagram pics, Pins, and Vines – there are countless ways for farmers and food marketers to interact with consumers directly via the internet. While staring down the barrel of a rapidly growing and increasingly affluent population, Andy sets the stage for effectively conveying agriculture’s story, focusing on how to communicate with the 95% of consumers open to dialogue and ignoring the 1% of consumers opposed to everything. Avoiding the dreaded “Martyr Complex,” Andy reveals strategies to maximize your influence online, and teaches you when and how to engage consumers productively.
GET OUT OF THE AGRICULTURAL ‘ECHO CHAMBER’
Livestock producers and farm organizations have historically utilized a production-centered perspective, but perhaps it’s time to change the way farmers and industry professionals view agriculture. Andy reflects on the lessons to be learned from HSUS interactions, Facebook incidents, and Oprah’s visit to a beef processing plant, and explains how food producers need to “YouTube-proof” their operations by adopting a food-centered, rather than production-centered, paradigm. Through stories of real examples, you’ll learn how to shift your outlook to better prepare your farm or organization to interact with the consumer.
IT’S ON THE INTERNET, SO IT HAS TO BE TRUE: BRIDGING THE ONLINE ‘CREDIBILITY GAP’
It’s not what you say, but what they hear that matters. While surveys consistently reveal that consumers love farmers, those same consumers often hold an inaccurate perception of “modern agriculture.” Andy helps both sides of the conversation understand that they really have more in common than they think by discussing values shared by both farmers and consumers, and by explaining how farmers can better understand how consumers think, and why they’re concerned about some modern farming practices.
WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
In an era when words live forever on the internet and no conversation is ever truly “off the record,” Andy shares the power of words in communicating about agriculture to the media and to the consuming public. Drawing on more than 14 years experience in agricultural journalism, Andy helps audiences understand how the words they choose make a difference – for better or for worse.
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Testimonials
3 people have recommended this speaker
“Andy brought a very realistic view on the topic of agriculture advocacy to the program…..He was able to talk about what was really happening out there…”
“One of the most memorable quotes from Mr. Vance’s presentation was “I’m not here to tell you what you want to hear, I’m here to tell you what you need to hear.” Mr. Vance did just that–but in a charming, and oftentimes comical way that put the audience at ease. While Mr. Vance delivered a message that would otherwise have been difficult for many tried-and-true agriculture enthusiasts to swallow, his eloquent delivery made the message more palatable. If you want a dynamic, engaging and passionate speaker, you can’t go wrong with Andy Vance.”
“Andy gave two presentations that stimulated, informed, and entertained our conference attendees. He covered topics including animal welfare and the livestock industry public relations. These are issues that are not always the most well received, but he presented them in a way that returned many positive comments from the audience. Multiple people said that Andy’s sessions were the best and highlighted the whole conference.”
“Andy gave two presentations that stimulated, informed, and entertained our conference attendees. He covered topics including animal welfare and the livestock industry public relations. These are issues that are not always the most well received, but he presented them in a way that returned many positive comments from the audience. Multiple people said that Andy’s sessions were the best and highlighted the whole conference.”