Standing Up For the Industry We Love | Brandi Buzzard
Advocating for Agriculture with Empathy and Understanding
Brandi Buzzard’s journey into agricultural advocacy started in an unexpected way. Growing up in a hobby ranching environment, she never imagined that she’d one day become a full-time advocate for agriculture, sharing her story through blogs, social media, and speaking engagements. But that’s exactly what happened, and her path has been anything but conventional.
Raised in Southeast Kansas, Brandi’s ranching roots run deep, but her entry into production agriculture was a bit of a surprise. She and her husband raise Gelbvieh and Balancer seedstock on their ranch, alongside running grass cattle almost year-round. Since the pandemic, Brandi’s expanded their freezer beef business, growing it from a small hobby into a substantial part of their operation. Despite not growing up on a commercial ranch, Brandy found her place in agriculture, combining her passion for the land with a desire to share what she’d learned with the world.
Her journey into advocacy began while she was a student at Kansas State University. Brandi recalls how, while reading biased and inaccurate articles about agriculture in the university’s student newspaper, she couldn’t stay silent. After writing a letter to the editor in response, Brandi reached out to a journalist she admired, Chuck Jolly, who ultimately published her letter. That moment marked the beginning of her advocacy work. In 2009, Brandi launched her blog, Buzzard’s Beat, and her voice in agriculture grew from there. Now, she uses multiple platforms to connect with others, educate consumers, and create an open dialogue about the realities of modern agriculture.
“When someone disagrees with us or doesn’t understand our industry, they’re not stupid—they just don’t know.”
One of Brandi’s most important messages as an advocate is the need to approach conversations about agriculture with empathy. She emphasizes that when someone disagrees with us or doesn’t understand our industry, they’re not stupid—they just don’t know. It’s essential to listen and be open to their point of view, especially when advocating in a way that builds relationships and fosters learning. She challenges the typical response of calling others "stupid" or "uninformed," as it only creates division. Brandi advocates for leading with understanding, especially when interacting with those outside the agricultural community.
In her work, Brandi tries to guide others in how to approach negativity with a calm and respectful demeanor, especially on social media. She advises taking a moment to cool off before responding to inflammatory comments, pointing out that angry responses rarely lead to meaningful conversations. The key is to provide factual information in a compassionate and approachable way. Whether it’s challenging the fear-based marketing that causes consumers to fear grocery store beef or addressing misinformation about agricultural practices, Brandi advocates for being an approachable and educated voice.
Additionally, Brandi encourages other agricultural advocates to be aware of the context in which they’re advocating. There’s a growing need for agriculture to reach out to the consumer audience, especially as they are the ones who ultimately make decisions in the grocery store. Brandi’s goal with her content is to connect with those outside the agricultural community, offering insights into how food is produced and why certain practices are used. She wants to shift the focus away from sensationalized headlines and highlight the facts in a way that’s relatable.
For Brandi, advocacy isn’t about convincing people they’re wrong but about creating open, honest conversations that promote understanding. She’s not about the "us vs. them" mentality but about showing that we all want what’s best for our families, communities, and the environment. Brandi’s approach is refreshing in an industry that can often be polarized, and her dedication to helping others understand agriculture in a positive light is truly inspiring.
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