She calls herself the “shark with a heart” from the hit television show “Shark Tank” and investor Barbara Corcoran stole the hearts of farmers and ranchers at the closing session of the 97th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show this week.
Corcoran shared her tips for creating a brand and taking charge of your image. “One of the most valuable lessons I learned early on in business is that perception creates reality,” Corcoran said, urging farmers to take the same approach to dispel the myths of corporate farming and help the public understand the business of the family farm.
Corcoran noted that in seven years of on “Shark Tank”, the majority of her investments were in food businesses. “I invest in the entrepreneur, not the business,” said Corcoran. “I’ve found that people in the food business are givers by nature. They’re kind, they’re good souls, and they’re true blue.”