Page 16 - Peer 2 Peer Learning Start-up kit

Appendix 1 / Connecting overview
Approach 1
Industry day
Approach 2
Farmer approach
Approach 3
Rural professionals
y Attend industry events – people are there because the topic is of interest or important to them. Or they like free lunches.
y Take note of who is there – are there some movers and shakers (producers or rural professional) that you can approach? Make time to connect with these people either at the day or soon after.
y Arrange a phone call or meet with the people you noted from above.
y Have something pre-considered to say. Do you want to explore this topic more? What is the next step for you? Do you think there is an opportunity to get a few farmers together to dig deeper in this topic? Try to build a plan of how to identify who is very interested and what might they want to invest time into. Share the ringing around between you and the other person/people. Each person you contact should be asked if they know anyone else that may be interested and decide who will contact them.
y Set a date to get connectors and eight to ten interested farmers together.
y Ask farmers you cross paths (or make a point to get in touch with them) questions along the lines of ‘what is an
opportunity/challenge you have been thinking about?’
y Consider if this is an opportunity that others may feel also. Would it make a good group focus...keep it farmer led.
y Ask farmers if they know any more farmers that may be interested.
y Set a date to get connectors and eight to ten interested farmers together.
y Many rural professionals do not know about peer-to-peer groups.
y Reach out to them! Think about rural accountants, banks (including non-partners), regional councils, vets, environmental consultants, discussion groups, fertiliser reps, stock agents, agronomists, rural supplies companies.
y Ask them if they see any opportunities. Farmers often talk about ‘ideas’ or ‘problems’ with their trusted network. Include more than one Rural Professional business if appropriate.
y The professionals can work in a connector capacity with you.
y Find out who else in their team may have contacts, ask farmers who else in their network may be keen.
16 | Peer-to-peer learning start-up kit / Appendices