Meeting your blogging friends in person

It's been a crazy few days as I have been jumping from one state to the next. However, it has also meant getting to meet/make some new friends.

On the weekend I attended the Kansas Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference. It was pretty cool to have more than 500 young famers come together to learn how to be better business people and raise better food for you - the consumer! While at the conference I spoke in one of the sessions on social media (blogging, Twitter, Instagram, and all that fun stuff).

Just before the conference I got a Facebook message from Janet Phillips, of A Farm Wife's Life, saying that she would be attending too! I was so excited that Janet and I would finally get to meet face-to-face as we have been reading each others blogs for awhile now.

 Me and Janet

She had lots of great turquoise on. 

When Janet came up she went in for the handshake, but I had to give her a hug. I mean I felt like we were already friends! I do not think this is creepy ;) Plus, Janet just helped me get a step closer to goal 58 on my 101 in 1001 list. 

Recently, I started to read a blog called Boots and Bling - How Kat and Tim Do Rural. I have no idea how I even stumbled onto the blog, but as soon as I saw their K-State picture I knew I would like these people. At the conference Kat realized that I would be there speaking and she came and tracked me down.

Kat's cute necklace. 

I was instantly was drawn to the turquoise on the heel. Kat said he husband bought her the charms to go with her Boots and Heels blog theme. Sweet guy. 

I love social media because it has allowed me to connect with so many amazing people. Sometimes I relate to their day-to-days lives, others give me fashion inspirations and some have become valuable resources in times when the Boy and I have questions about things that we need to improve or work on at the farm. 

If you could meet any of your blogger/twitter/instagram friends who would it be? 

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How to create a url for your Facebook page

A little social media tip

Do you have a Facebook page? Here is a little tip to make it easiest for people to find your Facebook page.

First look at the url on these two different pages.

Notice that after the .com there is a bunch of grabble (really technical term, I know). 

Now look at my Crystal Cattle page. See how it is just .com/crystalcattle

Because I have this simplified url I an easily include it in emails, on business cards or other literature pieces. So how do you get a url like this? Visit this link. 

https://www.facebook.com/username

And follow the instructions. However, be careful because you can only ever change you Facebook url once and then you are stuck with what you got. 

p.s. Don't forget about the $150 Boot Barn Shopping Spree Giveaway. Only a couple days left to enter. 

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Here's you chance to #AskUSDA about #SchoolFoodsRule

They are giving us a forum.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 29, the USDA will be talking about the new changes to the School Lunch Program at 1:00 PM EST

Some things that I hope are discussed:

1. Does this one-size all approach to nutrition really work?
2. Will those children who rely on school lunches as a vital part of their nutrition suffer?
3. How should children who are athletes deal with the restriction in calories?
4. Why can't we provide more lean protein for our growing kids?

The good news. By tweeting to @USDA with the hashtags #AskUSDA and #SchoolFoodsRule your questions could be answered. Janey Thaney, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services will be leading the chat. Hopefully, she has a much clearer understanding of the new changes that Secretary Tom Vilsack did in this interview.

For more perspective on these changes check out this great post from mom Debbie Blythe "School Lunches are Not Making our Kids Fat."

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Time to ask those blogging questions

Live with DRIVE.

Tonight I am partnering up with the Drive Ag Network to talk about blogging and social media, and you can join in.

Visit www.drivelivestock.com, sign up and be there at 8 PM CST. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions. I'll be covering everything from getting you blog started, to interacting with your audience, to generating more traffic.

And remember just because you might not be directly involved in agriculture doesn't mean you can't join in and make a few new friends. Hope to see you there tonight!

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2011 Recap: The Best of Pinterest

A virtual pin board

Today we aren't doing an official Turquoise Thursday, but no fear this recap still includes that wonderful color. I joined Pinterest the beginning of 2011 and was hooked immediately, and although I have shared with you many of my finds, a lot of the good stuff never makes it onto my blog. Therefore keeping with this week's themes of recaps I am sharing some of my most repinned Pinterest photos. p.s. If you aren't on Pinterest yet, and would like to be you can find my email under my About Me page and I'll email you an invite.

This is a pin of a picture from one of my favorite artists www.jmeeker.com It is part of my Crystal's Wish List Board.

My Cowhide board is one of my favorites. This McQueen cowhide bag is gorgeous.

I have featured these turquoise earrings on my blog before and they were definitely a favorite on my Turquoise Pinterest board. 

And how about these turquoise suede high heels. Wooza. 

I've got all kinds of wonderful ideas pinned on my Dream Home board. I dream of a home like this. Rock, open beams, wood, windows, love. 

My favorite part of Pinterest is all the recipes. I lived off this recipe this summer. The dressing is amazing. Make a whole bunch because you'll be using it on more than just this salad. 

Don't forget to check out my 2011 Recap of the Most Popular Crystal Cattle Blog posts.

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Networking, and reaching your goal

Grow, expand, connect. 

On Thursday, I am going to be a part of a networking event, put on by the Livestock Publications Council,  for Agricultural Communications students or students that might be interested in that career path. It isn't too late to sign up so I encourage you to check out all the details on the ACT Speed Networking Event in conjunction with the American Royal.

Now for a couple tips:

1. The Basics
Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to connect with people. Have your elevator speech (a spiel about yourself that you could communicate to someone before they get of the elevator) ready to go, business cards handy, and it doesn't hurt to have a few resumes with you just incase you find that perfect opportunity.

2. Tell Someone Your Dreams
My favorite thing to ask people - What do you want to do with your life, where do you want to go, how can I help you get there? If you never share these thoughts with people they can't help you achieve your dreams. I know sometimes we don't have everything planned out 100% or our plans might change a little bit along the way, but it is important to think about where you want to be so you can lay a plan out to get there, and find the right people to put on your team.

3. Image does matter
I wrote a post called Image Doesn't Matter back at the beginning of my blogging career. Well, no matter how many times you heard your mother say it image actually really does matter. Your image in front of me, your social media image, and how you are perceived by your peers and those in the industry all matters. Quoted from my blog, "Here is what goes through a recruiter’s head when they see your Facebook picture of your recent record-setting keg-stand? - click here to find out. 


4. Social Media presence 
First, and most important rule. Don't set up a social media account if you aren't going to use it. That means Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogging and all the other ones out there. If you create an account be engaged. Also remember that just because you are using social media doesn't mean you are a social media expert. In my mind no one is. 


5. Stay in touch 
Remember afterwards to keep in touch. The people you meet while networking could be the people that open the door to the exact opportunity you have been looking for. Also, you might not get an internship or job with one of these people, but that doesn't mean they can't be a mentor for you. Plus, who doesn't like thank you notes. 


Good luck with your dream and goals, and if you are looking for internships this summer be sure to check out the ACT Internship Job Board. 

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FFA Convention and lots of new friends

FFA + Friendship

Last week I was in Indianapolis for my very first National FFA Convention experience, and it was awesome. I was there will be new company and we were launching a brand new rewards program. Throughout the week I had the opportunity to meet tons of my social media friends! Similar to when I met Katie Pinke it was awesome to finally meet some of these people face to face.

Morgan (@MMuller24) follows my blog, and is from Iowa. It was so fun to meet lots of people from Iowa since I'll be calling it home very soon!

Heyley Heupel (@heyleyheupel) was competing at National FFA. It was so much fun to chat to these girls. It is pretty clear that FFA members have their heads on straight. Big goals and aspirations with the tools to get there. 

One night we had some fun at Howl at the Moon, and this was wrote on one of the mirrors. I guess advocacy can show up in the strangest places. 

Now these were probably the two most photo genetic FFA members I met. @NEBenOhio tells me that is is the jacket that makes so photo genetic! @CarolineWeihl is the Ohio State FFA District 1President aka a pretty big deal. Someone needs to give this girl an amazing internship this summer. 

I was able to stop by the K-State College of Ag booth while I was there, and they gave me a little flair. 

And while at the K-State booth I worked on recruiting another Iowa friend Bobbi to get her master's at K-State. I told her the green screen could help her "visualize" herself at K-State. 

There was also Kelli, she was there as a Media Intern. I'm also going to see her next week at the American Royal. Another really talented Ag Communications gal that needs a rocking internship this summer.  

 And Drew, who is an ag teacher in Ohio. He's also great help at suggesting great places to eat in Indy. 

Katie Pinke and I got to reunite, along with a first time meeting of Leah Beyer. She is a really cool gal, I think a Rockin' Rural Women kind of girl best explains her. More of RRW to come soon. Leah is also the mastermind behind Hunk of Meat Mondays. 

 And @NellieHill a fellow K-Stater and the girl behind @kstateag She was the first one to come over to the booth and surprise me! I also get pumped when I meet other K-Staters.

And the very last person who stopped by the booth was @JakeKnutson. I've been following Jake on Instagram for awhile and I love the pictures that him and his brother post. Jake was there a proficiency finalist, which also makes him a pretty big deal. Jake's excitement is contagious and you can tell that he has a true passion for livestock and agriculture through his picture.  

I know that I have missed a few people, but I loved meeting all of you! Next time you are at an event, convention or meeting don't be afraid to seek out your online friends. Having conversation in real life is even better than what you type out on your keyboard.

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I have an addiction to Pinterest

So what I like bulletin boards.

So I really like bulletin boards. I have two in my office, a couple in my bedroom and if I wasn't a renter there would probably be more. And came along this thing called Pinterest. I've talked about it before, but the skinny is that is it a virtual pin board in which you pin ideas or pictures to categorized boards. You can also look through other people's boards and repin the items they have found.

Not only is it an amazing way to get creative inspiration, items for supper and is helping me plan my wedding, but the best part is when you pin something you can go back to the pin and click on the link in the upper right hand corner.

Turquoise necklace found here 

That will then take you back to the website or blog that the item was originally found on. Genius. No more bookmarking a million websites. 

In the next couple weeks I thought I would start to feature some of my favorite pins from my favorite board. Let's start with Burlap! The Boy and I are using Burlap as one of our wedding colors, so I have been finding all kinds of goodies. 

Source: jillruth.com via Crystal on Pinterest

This dry erase board is really cute. 

Source: todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com via Crystal on Pinterest

You'll find all kinds of tutorials and DIY projects on Pinterest. 

Source: None via Crystal on Pinterest

Of course I would love the burlap bulletin board.

Source: kasiascrafts.blogspot.com via Crystal on Pinterest

Would be so easy to make. Gotta have a touch of turquoise in there. 

Source: vivaterra.com via Crystal on Pinterest

Way out of my budget, but definitely on my dream wish list.

Are you on Pinterst? If so let me know. 

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