The U.S. Farming and Ranching Alliance (USFRA) is selecting standout farmers and ranchers who are proud of what they do, eager to share their stories of continuous improvement and are actively involved in sharing those stories in public and on social media.

Recently we were given a chance to vote for whom we believe best exemplifies agriculture. The Faces of Farming & Ranching will share their stories and experiences about how food is grown and raised in the United States on a national stage, through media interviews, consumer-facing public appearances and events. Winners will be announced Nov. 12.

This is an exciting idea that I feel is extremely important as we try to address the concerns of the consuming public and the lies they continue to gobble up. But just exactly who should we vote for?

Each candidate has a two-minute video outlining their farm, life and values in agriculture. They are well done and give us a great glimpse into their personalities and farms.

But should we vote for who we like, or the one from our state? Or the one who has the most in common with us? Or do we use a different set of criteria for voting?

Each one of these farmers has an idea of what they want and need to share with consumers. But each one will be received drastically differently.

The farmer from Texas who raises cattle and poultry may not have the credibility among grocery-shopping moms like the dairy farmer, wife and mom from Michigan.

The city girl from Chicago turned farm wife and pig grower in Iowa may have just the background needed to convince a suburban mother of three that red meat is essential in her children’s diet – but the pig farmer from Illinois may be stereotyped as just another farmer who wants to make money.

But how these ag reps will react in media interviews has to be considered as well. That Illinois pig farmer who seems to be a stereotypical guy may be the best one in an interview because it’s obvious he’s had FFA public speaking training. He might be the best one to fire back appropriate answers when pushed into a corner by a vegan agenda.

The Texas farmer with his starched jeans and oxford shirt speaks with polish, too, and may be just what people want to see to stand opposite the overall-clad fallacy people have in their minds of the redneck in the rurals.

And the educated pretty cowgirl on her horse with her handsome cowboy husband is not just another pretty face. She’s got a degree in science, as she so aptly points out, just before she rides her steady steed under a romantic Western sky. She may have a different kind of credibility among the food and farming romantics shopping in our stores.

Whoever wins the popular vote, I hope they will be able to have an answer ready that is full of integrity and truth. And while they will be the face of agriculture, the rest of us aren’t off the hook; we need to continue to tell our own story with purpose and integrity like nobody’s business.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.