Farmers are an important but challenging audience for nature protection and pollution control people. Making up just 2% of the U.S. population, they have outsized influence on waters across the country and far out into the Gulf of Mexico. And nobody knows how to sweet talk a farmer into participating responsible conservation efforts better than Lena Beth Carmichael, coordinator for the Pond Creek Watershed Project in Athens, TN.

Lena Beth knows that putting people at ease is key to getting their cooperation. She applies her deft touch with farmers along Pond Creek and with audiences for her presentation “Top 9 Forms of Communication with a Farmer.”

Eric: You tell a number of funny stories in your presentation. For the benefit of Water Words readers who haven’t seen it, what are your big laugh lines?

Lena Beth: “First I admit that I’m a redneck farmer, myself… then I add I was married to their king for over 20 years.

I also have some funny photos of trees growing up through the bed of a pick up truck and say that “Change comes slowly”

I have a picture of a barn, and ”King Jesus Is Coming Soon” is painted on it. I tell people that when he gets here, he’s going to be really disappointed with how they took care of his place.

Eric: A lot of conservation professionals have a hard time understanding where farmers are coming from. What’s your secret for building trust?

Lena Beth: I only live 20 miles away.  I’m not just flitting in and leaving. I have my own reputation and my good name that I intend to keep. I think they take me more seriously because of that.

I also have a good sense of when it’s time to shut up, drop it, or leave. (I hope.)

Eric:Do you talk to farmers the same way you talk to your professional peers?

Lena Beth: No. I’ll admit that I have used conversations discussing “what it looks like from the road” because that’s what the community can see.  One farm in particular, will do things for social standing.  But they are not actually seen by the community as “SomeBody”.  Their social standing is all in their head. Doesn’t matter to me.  I can still use that, too.

One meeting, I called a particular farmer about 30 minutes before the meeting, and said “you’re coming, aren’t you?” of course he said,” is that today?” and I said, “Yes, and I’ve forgotten an extension cord to run my projector for my presentation. Can you bring me one?” He did.

Of course, I had an extension cord all along.

Yep, I’m manipulative. I’m a mother.

Eric: What kinds of things can you talk a farmer into doing with this approach?

Lena Beth: On one farm, my project built a fence to make a “sacrifice lot” at the top of the hill, near the parlor (creek is at the bottom of the hill maybe 200 yards).  We installed two 6-hole waterers in the lot.  The hillside was seeded down toward the creek.  The farmer was to buy and install the gates, which he was slow to do, and often does not close them now.

It is amazing how the cows choose to stay on top of the hill, in the level sacrifice lot, and drink the clean water provided for them.  I have pictures of them staying there, even with the gates wide open.  The hillside stays grassed.  The cows will go to the bottom in the heat of summer, to get shade, but they have not demolished the vegetation. It has worked really well.

It’s also right beside the road, so that’s good for the neighbors to see.