All This Work… Will They Show?
Marquis Johnson, Senior Communications Specialist, U.S. Internal Communications
As the Fields of the World Mobile Crop Science Exhibition made its way to Pittsburgh for three days, I wondered how employees would perceive the display. Would they find it interesting and engaging? Would they leave the exhibit with takeaways on modern agriculture and what Bayer is doing in this space?
These were the questions rolling through my head for the better part of a few weeks as I prepared communications to inform employees as the site coordinator. The exhibition, which has been making stops at several Bayer U.S. sites this fall providing hands-on experiences where employees can learn about Bayer’s role in shaping the future of farming, the advancements with farming technology, and why we need modern agriculture to provide a sustainable source of food for a growing global population.
The amount of work that went into setting up the exhibit was impressive in its own right with containers being moved around by a crane and a team making sure everything looked and fit just perfectly.
All the pre-work, planning and communications were finally over and it was now time to kick off the exhibit! My excitement grew as I had the opportunity to tour the display before it opened to employees. My understanding of modern agriculture before going through the exhibit was at only a high-level, but I can honestly say I learned a lot in the amount of time I spent in the exhibit. The number of interactive displays, video features, and just overall great information made me realize we need this technology now more than ever.
As a site that’s home to several service functions including finance, HR, legal and IT, the opportunity for our employees in Pittsburgh to learn about another business area, Crop Science, was truly invaluable. Not only did I hear a lot of positive feedback from some of the approximately 350 employees who toured the exhibit, but I also saw first-hand the conversations that were taking place and the questions being asked between teams going through the displays.
The investment Bayer made in the exhibition for our employees was well worth it. By taking a little bit of time out of their day to visit the exhibit, employees got a better understanding of farming–its importance, how to advocate for issues impacting modern agriculture, and most importantly, how modern technology will help feed those people around the world who need it most.
