smartMeme : Rural Vermont

Rural Vermont

“In 2004, Rural Vermont took on Big Agribusiness in a classic David and Goliath struggle. SmartMeme was our slingshot, providing us with an integrated package of services, from action design to advertising to on-the-ground media work, they helped us hit the giant right between the eyes. Reporters are still talking about our great campaign. SmartMeme Rocks!” --Amy Shollenberger, Policy Director, Rural Vermont

1.) This full page ad ran in the capitol city news paper as farmers and supporters geared up to march on the statehouse. 2.) The march, led by farmers, flooded the hearing where Monsanto lobbyists were testifying to VT lawmakers—resulting in historic news coverage.
3.) This ad, run later in the ’04 session, brought together the host of issues facing VT’s family farmers in the frame of “corporate control.”

Client: Rural Vermont

Project: One Contaminated Farm is One too Many!

Services Provided: Message Development, Campaign Strategy Consulting, Action Design, Facilitation, Strategic Planning Consultation, Media Work, Print Advertisements

SmartMeme provided strategic consulting, direct media support, and designed two full page ads for Rural Vermont, a statewide farmer advocacy group working for a “Time Out” on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). SmartMeme also provided facilitation and strategic planning support to help Rural Vermont grow its campaigning capacity. The state of Vermont is the first in the nation to pass a labeling law on GMOs.