energy & Agriculture Tour Engaging with a crucial sector of America’s economy – agriculture – on energy issues is important. While Members with rural districts can tour farms and ranches, Members in more urban districts can conduct a similar tour visiting greenhouses, nurseries or other agriculture-related businesses. How it works: Select 3-4 farms and/or ranches throughout the district to visit in one day. Invite farmers and/or ranchers to the stop(s) closest them. Begin each stop with a tour of the host farmor ranch. After the tour, have the Member meet with the attendees who have gathered. Each stop should last approximately one hour. Maximizing exposure: Before the Event Issue a media advisory with full schedule one week in advance. Send a reminder the day before. Invite local press to all stops, taking special care to notify agriculture and energy reporters. Arrange stops in different media markets. During the Event Use social media to upload photos and videos when possible. Try to tweet at or between each stop. Interview participants about the intersection of agriculture and energy, and their day-to-day lives. After the Event Post an albumof photos to Facebook. Focus the Member’s weekly column that week on agriculture and energy. Release a video with highlights fromthe event including interviews from attendees and interactions with the Member. Messaging Themes Energy Independence Fostering Innovation Reining in Red Tape Expanding Markets for Manufacturers & Small Businesses Tips Try to ensure that all forms of agriculture in the district are represented with a visit (dairy, sheep, pigs, beef, orchards, vineyards, etc.) Work with local agricultural groups (Dairymen’s Association,
Fostering Innovation Reining in Rep Tape Tips Wear clothes in which you feel comfortable doing ‘hands-on’ work. Give each person the Member talks to a card with spaces for names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, including an opt-in box to your e-mail list, which will provide lists for future targeted mailings.
#cutwaste Drive Time radio Tour A drive time tour will allow the Member to deliver a message of responsible government to an audience listening to the radio during their commutes. In addition, by taking questions fromcallers, Members can directly engage with constituents about wasteful spending. How it works: Identify the 3-5 most popular drive-time radio shows in your media market(s). Reach out to programdirectors and set up a time for the Member to appear live, in-studio on the show or via phone for 15-20 minutes. Drive time is between 7-10 AMand 5-7 PM. If scheduling permits, stagger appearances at different stations in these different blocks. In studio, the Member should give a brief update on what is happening in Washington and how Congress is fighting to hold the government accountable and control spending. Maximizing exposure: Before the Event On the day before, tweet the time of the appearances to followers, using the radio station’s Twitter handle. Use other social media tools to promote the tour as well. During the Event Tweet about the Member’s appearance, with a link to listen live. If possible, take photos of the Member in studio and share on social media as well. After the Event Tweet the Member’s thanks to the radio station and those who called in. Obtain a recording fromstudio if possible, and share that on social media as well as in a traditional press release, highlighting the Member’s best quotes and caller interactions. Messaging Themes Controlling Spending Reining in Red Tape Stopping Waste & Fixing Broken Government