Thursday, 12 September 2019 09:55

Telling rural stories better

Written by  Pam Tipa
Nine-year-old Lucy O’Reilly features in DWN’s new social media campaign. Nine-year-old Lucy O’Reilly features in DWN’s new social media campaign.

Dairy Women's Network (DWN) last week launched a new website, Instagram page and online visual story telling project called ‘Our People. Their Stories’.

The website will also use webinars and Vlogs (video blogs) as part of it visual story telling focus.

DWN says looking to create deep emotional connections is the drive behind ‘Our People. Their Stories’, which has already attracted television coverage.

The first story features Lucy O’Reilly (9), who prefers the latest dairy farming catalogues to children’s books. This was released to coincide with the website launch last Tuesday. 

Lucy has her own herd and loves nothing more than helping out on the farm near Tirau, Waikato.

“We all just fell in love with Lucy,” said DWN chief executive Jules Benton. “Her story is real, authentic and is from the heart.  

“We sent some early footage to Seven Sharp which resulted in Hilary Barry coming down to the O’Reilly’s farm to spend a morning with Lucy for her ‘Hilary Helps’ segment that ended up being the story of the week for the show.”

Benton says DWN is rolling out a series of short, motivating visual stories, professionally produced, over our social channels and platforms.

“We are treating them like a mini television series and some of the content will also be used to pitch to mainstream media.”

The ‘Our People. Their Stories’ project is intended to have DWN engage more deeply with its members and ultimately the dairy industry.

“Stories create deep emotional connections and they start conversations,” says Benton. “We [will tell] stories that will transport and touch people, inspire, educate and engage and provoke an emotional response.”

Each story will have a unique angle to make it special, Benton says. 

“We want to showcase all the differing elements of agri-industry in New Zealand, and how women are making a substantial difference to the success of dairy businesses that contribute to a better New Zealand. There are amazing stories we can’t wait to show.

“DWN is driven and inspired by people actively involved in the agri industry at all levels. By celebrating news, achievements and shared experiences, our members and wider rural communities are empowered to strive for more.”

More like this

Featured

Cresslands Stud's Century of Change

The subdivision and sale of the Rangiora's Coldstream Estate in 1921 was advantageous for not one, but four Cantebury families - but one in particular has become synonymous with outstanding Holstein Friesian cattle.

Editorial: Live Exports Dead in the Water

OPINION: Public opinion, political pragmatism and commercial and market reality have caused the Government to abandon introducing legislation into Parliament to legalise the shipment by sea of live animals - mainly cows - to overseas destinations.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Silly Season

OPINION: Election years are usually regarded as the silly season, but a mate of the Hound reckons 2026 is shaping…

Two-Faced System

OPINION: If farmers poured just a few litres of some pollutant into a stream, the Green Party and the wider…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter