As you may know, if you follow the blog semi-regularly, we are currently taking the “Grow Your Small Market Farm” class up in Ames. So far we have had four classes (I had to miss one, but I was able to listen to a recording) and each one has been a treasure trove of information. But, besides the classes each week we have homework that deals with creating a business plan for your farm and so much more. I have found the homework thought provoking, interesting, and even difficult at times … and I love it! But, I do need some help (that is nothing new when it comes to me and homework).
In a session coming up pretty soon we are going to have a guest speaker focusing on things like brochures, advertising things, and farm logos. That is where I could use some help. Above is a what I guess is our “text logo”. It is something that my wife’s cousin did for us when he made the website and I think it is great. But, what I would like to have in conjunction with that is some sort of “image” logo. Something like the one for Sugar Creek Farm, Caw Caw Creek, the grass for Prairie Lakes Church, Nature’s Harmony Farm’s circle logo, or even Polyface Farm’s tree to an extent.
You know … I want something fun, fresh, and hip that reflects our pasture raised beef, pork, and poultry. A pretty tall order huh!?!
Of course we are fooling around with a few things, but I’m always open for suggestions. If you have any ideas no matter how silly you think they are I would love to hear them. All I know is that if we just rely on my artistic ability we are in trouble…
I just thought of something. Neat? Look at that gray outline above “Stoneyfield”. Now, draw a tiny barn on gray line somewhere above “n”. And then draw in other critters and whatsoever you want to portray as part of your farm. Since you have children at home yet, use stick-figure style of drawing? You can always change the design later. Be sure that added figures does not overwhelm the “Stoneyfield”.
That’s an idea anyhow.
How about incorporating some sort of modified cave painting style portrayal of cattle into your logo? Using a series of “simple” lines and shading (although actually very sophisticated), “primitive” man was able to recreate a sense of the movement and shape present in a herd of animals.
As a starting point in the design process, the gray line in your existing logo could be slightly altered to represent the lines along the back of a bull. After you fine tune your design, you could also build a similarly designed road sign out of metal rod.
Using a seemingly simple but actually complex method in your logo could also represent the seemingly simple but complex aspects of a grazing based form of agriculture, although you couldn’t point it out to anybody or it would lose its double meaning.
My two cents, coming from a marketing background:
Start with a double circle (one inside the other). Represents the circle of life.
Inscribe the words “Stoneyfield Farm” between the circles, from about 9:00 to 4:00 or so. Stoneyfield Farms is a part of the circle of life, get it?
Coming from inside the circles, at about 7:00 or so, over the top of the circle at about 9:00, and then bending back toward to the farm name, put about 5 stalks of grass, complete with seed heads. They appear to be blowing in the breeze, and represent the pasture.
In the center of the circle, put a happy, smiling pig looking slightly up and to the right (i.e., looking at the farm name). He’s happy because he’s pasture raised. You’ll have to find the balance between a photograph and cartoon here. Drawing is better, but you don’t want it too silly looking.
Across the bottom, overlapping the bottom of the circles, put a wavy ribbon banner with the words “Pasture-raised pork”.
I did a 2-second sketch I’d be happy to scan and email, if you want it, so you’ll have some idea what I’m talking about.
I really enjoy reading your blog, even if you have no idea who I am! Keep it up!
Anonymous – I would love to see your sketch-up of this idea. Just go ahead and shoot it to my Beginning Farmer e-mail link over on the right.
Have you had any issues with the company that makes yogurt, also known as Stoney Field farm?
No, we haven’t had trouble with that. They actually spell it Stonyfield (without the “e”). We have the “e” in there because that is they way John Adams spelled it most of the time.
Well played! I like the “e” anyway.