Cultivating Success

Sharlet (Brown) Teigen

is a senior partner with Demeter Communications. She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing communications, spanning across the agricultural and food spectrum. Her expertise lies in turning strategic directives into results-oriented tactical programs. Not only can she be instrumental in developing the "right-on" strategy, but also in the day-to-day execution of effective programs. Her particular talents are public relations, issues management, events and working with volunteers.

She has conducted communications training for groups as diverse as the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen.

Her work on youth food and nutrition education programs for the national beef checkoff won the 2002 and 2003 "Best of Show" award from the National Agri-Marketing Association's (NAMA) Region III contest. It went on to win the coveted NAMA national "Best of Show-Public Relations" in 2004. She has received meritorious service awards from NAMA and the American Agricultural Editors Association, served as president of the Chicago NAMA chapter and the first chairman of NAMA's Commodity Promotion Special Interest Group.

Sharlet was director of pork information (including producer, packer/processor, health professional and educator audiences) and also director of meat science & research information for the National Live Stock and Meat Board. She later headed up the public relations division for Osborn & Barr Communications, where her clients included the United Soybean Board, American Ag Retailers Association, Merck Animal Health and Crop Sciences, Monsanto, American Sheep Industry Association and U.S. Livestock Genetics Export. She also was on the staff of the Dairy Council of South Dakota, Gurney's Seed and Nursery, and GTA Feeds. As an independent consultant, she worked for groups such as the American Egg Board, the National FFA Foundation, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, several state beef councils, the Irish Food Board and various marketing firms.

After growing up on a purebred sheep and horse ranch in northwest South Dakota, she earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural journalism from South Dakota State University in 1985. She is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association, American Agricultural Editors Association, Livestock Publication Council and National Association of Farm Broadcasting.

Random Acts

Sharlet returned to her rural roots in 1996, marrying cattle rancher John Teigen. In January 2010, after making the difficult decision to transition to a smaller ranch, they moved to their new home near Belle Fourche, SD. She is looking forward to pursuing another successful year of open and quarter horse shows (riding both English and Western) plus training and competing on one of her sister's horses in regional barrel races.
Locally, she has devoted considerable pro bono time and effort to make possible a new community center for her rural area. "We can plug in all the Crock Pots we want to now," she says.
She adores her three step-children and five grandchildren. It's now acceptable to call her "Grandma Sharlet."

Brushes with Greatness

She was the South Dakota Pony of America Princess sometime during the 1970's and champion showman at the South Dakota State 4-H Horse Show in 1981. That year, she also won a championship at the Canadian National Appaloosa Show.
She met the world's most famous weatherman, Willard Scott, at the national Pork Congress and has the corny picture to prove it.
Rodeo fans will recognize the Teigen name, although the name is rarely pronounced the same way twice. John is a successful team and single steer roper. While attending rodeo events, she is well-prepared with a stack of reading, cell phone and laptop.

| | | | |
Demeter Communications 406 S Edwin Street, Champaign, IL 61821