Michele Payn wrangles cattle, kids, words, and stubborn farmers. She is a lifetime Holstein breeder, an avid Spartan living on an Indiana farm with her ‘city slicker’ husband, and a mom chasing her runner daughter around the country. Michele has raised millions of dollars for FFA and 4-H, worked with farmers and ranchers in more than 25 countries and built a business to serve the people of agriculture for 22 years, earning the Certified Speaking Professional designation given to only 900 people in the world.
Michele works to help to normalize that stress is a part of agriculture. She works to help people better understand the science of how our brain naturally responds to the stress – and what we can do to better care for the people of agricuture. She is an international columnist in AgDaily and Progressive Dairy, on stress management for farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses and created Agriculture’s Growth Calendar as a tool to help people proactively manage stress.
She grows understanding around food and farming by connecting on an emotional level, communicating science through story, and creating hope one conversation at a time. Her speaking programs, podcast, and award-winning books – Food Bullying, Food Truths from Farm to Table, and No More Food Fights! – offer a unique look at the intersection of brains, behavior, and building connections. Payn brings practical examples people can use at home and in helping others.
