Rachel Fishback lives in Washington, Iowa, in the southeast part of the state, but her community reaches beyond the Midwest. She is bringing social media followers and television viewers from around the world into the realities of U.S. agriculture. As a seventh-generation farmer, Fishback highlights her own experiences as the social media influencer Iowa Farm Mama.
With her success on social media, she founded People of Ag Media and is the host and producer of Pride of Pork on AcresTV, sharing what it’s like to be an on-farm pork producer.
WIAT caught up with Fishback to ask her how she’s blending the two worlds of media and agriculture to help promote connection between consumers and growers and why its so important today.
WIAT: Can you explain what and how you use your influence on social media?
Rachel Fishback (RF): I initially started posting on TikTok as Iowa Farm Mama just to understand the app and how it worked. I also realized I was searching how to fix things around my house, and I was gravitating toward video learning to answer my questions.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly it would grow into something more — a way to connect with people across the ag world and spark conversations around farming, food, and family life. It also unlocked a creative side of me that enjoys speaking on camera, sharing stories, and conducting interviews with those in the agricultural community.
As an Iowa Farm Mama, founder of People of Ag Media, and host of Pride of Pork on AcresTV, I use my platforms to shine a light on the people behind agriculture. Whether it’s showcasing pork recipes, spotlighting rural businesses, or telling real farm stories, I aim to educate, inspire, and connect with both ag insiders and consumers alike. Social media allows me to blend advocacy, creativity, and storytelling — all rooted in my passion for agriculture.
WIAT: Can you tell us a little bit about your farming background?
RF: My farming career began in the early 2000s when I was married — we farmed together, did custom work, and raised hogs. After we went our separate ways, I continued farming alongside my brother on our family ground. At the same time, I worked full time in the construction and swine industries.
When COVID hit, and we couldn’t host open houses for construction projects or bring people on-site, I knew I needed to find a new way to showcase our work. That’s when I shifted gears in my photography brain — moving from just taking still photos of projects to learning how to capture and create videos.
It’s been a learning curve with editing, shooting, and sound, but it also opened my eyes to how powerful video can be in sharing the story of farming, pork production, and rural life. It’s become a creative and impactful way to connect with people and show what agriculture is really all about.
WIAT: What are your thoughts about Women in Ag Tech?
RF: I think Women in Ag Tech is a powerful and much-needed program. It creates a unique space where professionals developing ag technology and the farmers using it can come together.
By bridging that gap, it helps both sides better understand each other’s roles and challenges, ultimately making innovation more practical and impactful on the farm. It’s encouraging to see people leading the way in fostering these connections and shaping the future of ag tech.
WIAT: What trends do you see happening in agriculture that need to be discussed?
RF: Everything. Agriculture has often taken a backseat in mainstream conversations, and there’s so much happening on farms every day that goes unseen and unheard by the general public.
While ag might show up in TV commercials or seasonal campaigns, those don’t always reflect the real, day-to-day innovation, challenges, and progress happening behind the scenes. Until recent years I’ve seen agriculture life as farmers and the companies that help farmers.
People are intrigued with learning or having their questions answered. What a more opportune time than now. Bringing those stories to the forefront — from technology adoption over the years and sustainability practices to the people and families who make it all happen.
The more we talk about what’s going on in agriculture, the better we can connect with consumers and shape the future of the industry. Agriculture is evolving quickly, yet much of the day-to-day reality on farms remains behind the scenes.
Social media is changing that. More conversations around the real work being done — from random problems, showing how we use things on the farm, navigating daily duties, to how farmers care for the land and animals. It’s not just about educating consumers, it’s also about building up peer-to-peer learning within our ag communities. The more we share, the stronger and more connected our industry becomes — and the more trust we build with those outside it.
