285 Boost Your Farm's Revenue with Value-Added Products: Insights from Kendall Ballantine
My Digital Farmer | Marketing Strategies for Farmers
Release Date: 10/30/2024
My Digital Farmer | Marketing Strategies for Farmers
Ever wonder what a farmer actually posts on social media every week? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain. You’ll hear the exact posts I published on Facebook and Instagram during the months of July/August—and more importantly, why I posted them. I’ll break down the thinking behind each caption, the strategy behind my weekly rhythm, and how I keep showing up online even when farm season is chaos. Spoiler: It’s not random. It’s not last-minute. And it only takes me 30 minutes a week—because I’ve built a rinse-and-repeat content system that works. In this episode,...
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Ever had a marketing nerd moment in a grocery store aisle? That was me last week. I was shopping for soap and paper towels when I spotted two clever packaging choices that completely reframed everyday items—and stopped me in my tracks. And that got me thinking… What if we could borrow the same playbook as big consumer brands? In today’s episode, I’m breaking down five powerful marketing strategies that mainstream brands use to breathe new life into their products—and how YOU, as a farmer, can adapt these ideas to your own veggie boxes, meat bundles, cheese, flowers, and more. These...
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What if you stopped hiding your “sold out” signs—and started using them as a marketing advantage? Last week, while I was restocking products in our online store, I noticed a few items were still showing from the previous week—greyed out because they had sold out. My first instinct? Clean them up. But then I had a lightbulb moment: What if I left them there on purpose? Because “Sold Out” sends a message—actually, several. And in this episode, I’m going to show you how to turn sold-out items into one of the most powerful, persuasive, no-cost marketing strategies on your farm....
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August 20, 2025 What would you do if the news station called and asked to feature your farm... tomorrow morning? Would you panic? Wing it? Or would you know how to strategically show up and shine? Well, that’s exactly what happened to us. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of our recent appearance on WTOL’s It’s a Good Day morning show—and break down the exact steps my husband Kurt and I took to make the most of this golden moment for our farm business. You’ll learn how to prepare for a media appearance, show up like a pro, and use the afterglow to grow your brand, email...
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Local Line is my preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: If your marketing to-do list is starting to...
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Instagram Stories are one of the most underutilized and powerful tools in a farmer's marketing toolbox. They’re fast. Raw. Relatable. And they let your audience peek behind the curtain of your farm life, creating trust and connection in just a few frames. But what the heck should you even talk about in a IG Story? In this episode, I break down 8 specific Story content ideas that I use every single week to show up consistently and connect with my audience — especially during the busy farm season. Whether you're totally new to IG Stories platform or you're ready to make them more intentional...
info_outlineMy Digital Farmer | Marketing Strategies for Farmers
Local Line is my preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: If your marketing to-do list is starting to...
info_outlineMy Digital Farmer | Marketing Strategies for Farmers
Podcast Sponsors: Local Line is my preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: If...
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If your farm sells bulk meat, you’ve probably experienced this challenge: a customer places their deposit… and then has to wait 4–6 months before pickup. That’s a long time to keep someone excited, informed, and connected. But what if that “dead zone” in your customer journey could actually become your secret weapon for building loyalty, reducing buyer’s remorse, and increasing repeat purchases? In this week’s episode, I sit down with Breann Detweiler, a pastured meat farmer in my Farm Marketing School. During a private 1:1 call, we workshop how to build a...
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Last week we mapped out what your farm’s VIP program could look like. This week, it’s time to bring it to life. How do you structure it? Communicate it? Track it? And… what if someone loses VIP status? If you've ever wanted a loyal sub-group of "superfans" who promote your farm, buy regularly, and feel deeply connected to your brand—this episode gives you the blueprint to build that community on purpose. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The 4 different ways to structure a VIP system (and how to choose the right one) Simple methods to track VIP customer behavior without fancy...
info_outlineAre you creating value-added products and selling them in your farm business? After hearing this episode, you may decide to get started!
"Value-added" refers to any agricultural products that have been processed or enhanced in a way that increases their market value. This could involve transforming raw farm products into something more convenient, shelf-stable, or unique, thus making them more appealing to customers. For example, turning fresh vegetables into pickles, making jams from fruit, or creating bone broth from animal by-products are all considered value-added because they offer more convenience, flavor, or functionality compared to their raw form. These products often allow farmers to increase their profit margins and diversify their income streams.
In this episode, Kendall Ballantine from Central Park Farms dives into the world of value-added products and how they transformed her direct-to-consumer farm business into a thriving operation. Discover how these simple innovations can create new revenue streams, support business growth, and help farms stay afloat during the off-season.
Tune in to learn:
- How Kendall turned chicken bones into bone broth, chicken pot pie, and over 40 other freezer meals for her online store.
- Where to start with value-added products.
- How to come up with value added product ideas.
- Creative marketing tips to entice buyers to buy your value added products.
- Common mistakes farmers make when they first start out with value-added.
- How to price your value added so you remain profitable.
This conversation is packed with actionable insights to inspire your own farm business!
Today's Guest: Meet Kendall Ballantine.
Follow Kendall's marketing tips at www.instagram.com/
Her website: www.onlinemarketingforfarmers.com
Workshop: Increasing Revenue with Value Added Products
Workhorse Collective, Kendall's Coaching Program
Podcast Sponsor:
This podcast was sponsored by Local Line, my preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy to use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise, Local Line should definitely be one of the e-commerce solutions you consider as you switch. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2024. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline
Some of the resources mentioned in this episode:
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