Guedon Farms in Mississippi Uses Social Media to Connect and Educate
In partnership with: Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce
Guedon Farms in Natchez, Mississippi, has been in the Guedon family for decades, and all signs point to the family legacy continuing for decades to come. Emile Guedon is a sixth-generation farmer who was raised on the farm and started pitching in when he was just 5 years old. That may seem young to some, but he wouldn’t change it for the world.
“My brothers and I were blessed to be mentored by our dad, uncles and grandfather,” Guedon says. “We were always involved in a wide variety of jobs over the years, from operating equipment and driving trucks to learning how to wire, plumb and run packing crews.”
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The one thing you can always count on in agriculture is change, which is why the family strives to stay diverse, efficient and forward-thinking to remain profitable in the marketplace. The Guedons currently grow corn, cotton, soybeans, milo, oats, millet and wheat, among other crops. They also run a farm supply business.
“It takes a team to make it all work, which is challenging but rewarding,” Guedon says.
Launching a Social Media Presence
Guedon Farms launched its first social media account on Instagram in July 2017, which has since grown to having more than 8,000 followers.
“I started our account with two goals in mind,” Guedon says. “The first was to educate people on what daily life looks like on a large family farm. I always keep the content real, sharing how we focus on sustainability and lifelong stewardship of the land.”
In a world where more and more people are shopping at big-box stores rather than local farms, this was a high priority for Guedon and his family. “I believe there is a large disconnect today between producers and consumers when it comes to feed, fiber and fuel production,” he says. “I wanted to use Instagram to start bridging that gap.”
Guedon says his secondary mission with the farm’s social media presence was to share the importance of their faith. “We strive to show others how good Jesus is every day to the very best of our ability,” he says. “God is the essence of good, and we don’t want anyone to miss out on his grace, love and peace.”
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A Family-Focused Operation
As a family farm, it should come as no surprise that part of the social media account revolves around the next generation. As a sixth-generation farmer himself, Guedon has agriculture in his blood and is currently passing down the skills, passion and livelihood to the seventh generation.
“The future of our farm falls completely on our shoulders,” he explains. “A lot of that relies on how we raise our children. We teach, train and lead them to be hard workers who are creative, honest, disciplined, smart, loving and caring. There’s no room for excuses.”
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Guedon says anyone who follows them on Instagram can see that the children often work alongside the adults, eagerly learning about the industry in preparation to contribute now and cultivate and grow it in the future.
“When I think about the future of our farm, I always have all of our kids in mind,” he says. “With good leadership and training, any of these children can make a meaningful impact – not just for our farm, but for society as a whole.”
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Connecting With Others
Guedon Farms is only on Instagram for now, but Guedon says even this single platform has opened his eyes to a few things.
“American agriculture is full of great, hardworking farmers and farm families,” he says. “This country is truly blessed by its people, and I’ve made several wonderful friends along this journey.”
In addition to making connections with fellow members in the industry, Guedon has found new opportunities to learn and grow, incorporating different techniques from others into Guedon Farms’ operation. “I like to think that we’re educating the people who follow us online about American agriculture and the lifestyle that comes with it.”