2017 AWARD WINNERS PROGRAM
American Agricultural Editors’ Association: Agricultural Communicators Network
2017 AAEA Communications Awards
Presented Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Agricultural Media Summit, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, Snowbird, Utah
Contents
2017 AAEA Communications Awards
Writing Awards Program
Design Awards Program
MarComm Awards Program
Digital & Social Media Awards Program
Photography Awards Program
2017 AAEA Service Awards and Scholarships
Lifetime Achievement Award
Fellows of the AAEA
Andy Markwart Horizon Award
Scholarships
Sponsors
Committees
AAEA Writing Awards Program
The AAEA Writing Awards Program is sponsored by AAEA through funding provided by Syngenta.
2017 Winners
Breaking News
1st Bill Spiegel, High Plains Journal, “Wildfires Take Emotional Toll”
2nd Emily Unglesbee, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Herculex Trait Fails Against Western Bean Cutworm”
3rd Pamela Smith, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Dicamba Restrictions”
Economics & Management
1st Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, “Troubled Waters”
2nd Gil Gullickson, Successful Farming, “Traits Under the Lens”
3rd Lorne McClinton, The Furrow, “Logistical Symphony”
Editorial Opinion
1st Holly Spangler, Prairie Farmer, “Illinois Budget: Like a Bull That Can’t Breed”
2nd Gregg Hillyer, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Food Labels Won’t Solve GMO Knowledge Gap”
3rd Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, “We Ignore Cuba at Our Own Peril”
Human Interest
1st Joel Reichenberger, The Furrow, “Sleeping on Straw”
2nd Joe Link, The Furrow, “The Crooked Road”
3rd Martha Mintz, Homestead Magazine, “Celebrating Sauerkraut”
Humorous Article
1st Marlee Moore, Alabama Farmers Federation, “Going Out with a Bang: Holy Smoke Offers Outdoorsmen One Last Shot”
2nd Pamela Smith, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Hover Over This”
3rd Charles Johnson, Homestead Magazine, “Blame the Llama
Issues
1st Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, “Palm Oil Producer Bucks the Tide”
2nd Virginia Harris, DTN/ The Progressive Farmer, “Primary Care Pipeline”
3rd Dan Miller, DTN/ The Progressive Farmer, “Bridging the Gap”
On-Farm Production
1st Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Out of the Toy Box”
2nd Joann Pipkin, Angus Journal, “Fingertip Marketing”
3rd Dave Mowitz, Successful Farming, “100 Percent Speed, Zero Percent Losses”
Personality Profile
1st Joe Link, Homestead Magazine, “The Luthier”
2nd Ann Hess, Ag Daily, “The Incredible Dr. Pol”
3rd Kasey Brown, Angus Journal, “A Century of Overcoming Adversity”
Regular Column
1st Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, “Soil Health Just Needs One First Step”
2nd Urban Lehner, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “The Blurring Line Between Big Food and Little Food”
3rd Kurt Lawton, Corn + Soybean Digest, “Green Autumn Fields”
Technical Feature
1st Victoria Myers, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Hooves Not Harrows”
2nd Gil Gullickson, Successful Farming, “The Next Great Leap”
3rd Jill Loehr, Farm Progress, “Tech’s Trust Issues”
Team Story
1st Jacqui Fatka & Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, “Fear on the Farm”
2nd Gil Gullickson & Kacey Birchmier, Successful Farming, “Some Call It Satan”
3rd Jennifer Kiel, Paul Jackson, & Nicole Heslip, Michigan Farmer & Michigan Farm News, “Help Wanted”
Story of the Year
“Sleeping on Straw”
Joel Reichenberger
The Furrow
Writer of the Year, Honorable Mention
Kacey Birchmier
Successful Farming
Writer of the Year
Joe Link
The Furrow
2017 Master Writer Program
New Writer of Merit in 2017
Gregg Hillyer
Jennifer Kiel
New Master Writers (Level Five) in 2017
Jennifer Carrico
Dee Goerge
Level One
Robin Booker
J. Adam Calaway
Susan Crowell
Debra Davis
Nicole Heslip
Ann Hess
Katie Navarra
Level Two
Laura Conaway
Marilyn Cummins
Cheryl Day
Courtney Leeper
Ron Lyseng
Shelby Mettlen
Joann Pipkin
Joel Reichenberger
Level Three
Jill Loehr
Marlee Moore
Kylene Scott
Level Four
Kacey Birchmier
2017 AAEA Writing Judges
Kasey Allen
Larry Aylward
Sue Stuever Battel
Gordon Billingsley
Alan Bjerga Neal Fandek Ray Ford Georgina Gustin
Michael Hanisco
Brian Horn
Patricia Howard
Jason Jenkins
Tim Marema
Candace Pollock Jake Sherlock Jessica Stewart Susan Thompson Grant Wall
Nicole Wisniewski
Mike Zawacki
AAEA Design Awards Program
The AAEA Design Awards Program is sponsored by AAEA through funding provided by
DuPont Pioneer.
2017 Winners
Cover Page Design — Commercial
1st Lisa Lynd, Farm Futures, “Super Powers”
2nd Lisa Lynd, Farm Futures, “Can Science Save Citrus?”
3rd Lisa Lynd, Farm Futures, “Target Practice”
Cover Page Design — Custom
1st Amy Gohman, C Magazine, “The Future of Food” Jan/Feb 2017
2nd Rachael Davis, Legacy Magazine, “Today’s Lessons, Tomorrow’s Leaders”
3rd Matt Strelecki, FFA New Horizons Magazine, “I am FFA” Spring 2017
Single-Page Editorial Design – Commercial
1st Lisa Lynd, Farm Futures, “How We Got Here”
2nd Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, “Gleanings” Mid-November 2016
3rd Donovan Harris, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Speak Up For Ag”
Single-Page Editorial Design – Custom
1st Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, “Recovering Dairyman”
2nd Katie Range, Illinois Field & Bean, “Look into the Illinois Millennial Mindset”
3rd Katie Range, Illinois Field & Bean, “Voice for Soy Advocacy Champions Multiply Farmer Voices
Opening Page or Spread Design – Commercial
1st Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, “The Pollinator Blame Game”
2nd Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, “Put Your Power Use Under the Microscope”
3rd Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, “The Next Great Leap”
Opening Page or Spread Design – Custom
1st Richard Williamson, The Furrow, “Rekindling the Flame”
2nd Amy Gohman, C Magazine, “The Future of Food”
3rd Amy Gohman, C Magazine, “Building Together”
Two-Plus Page Design – Commercial
1st Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, “Put Your Power Use Under the Microscope”
2nd Michelle Houlden, The Western Producer, “Divergence: If GM Technology is Safe, Why Don’t Consumers Trust It?”
3rd Donovan Harris, Brent Warren, and Barry Falkner, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “The Pulse of Rural America”
Two-Plus Page Design – Custom
1st Amy Gohman, C Magazine, “Blueberry Fields Forever”
2nd Amy Gohman, C Magazine, “Off the Rails”
3rd Amy Gohman, C Magazine, “Building Together”
Special Editorial Section Design
1st Greg Ryan, GPN Magazine, “2017 Guide to Cannabis Production”
2nd Donovan Harris, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “2017 America’s Best Young Farmers and Ranchers”
3rd Donovan Harris, Brent Warren, and Barry Falkner, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “Life in the Trench”
Overall Magazine Design – Commercial
1st Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, October 2016
2nd Greg Ryan, GPN Magazine, October 2016
3rd Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, August 2016
Overall Magazine Design – Custom
1st Amy Gohman, C Magazine, Jan/Feb 2017
2nd Rachael Davis, Legacy Magazine, Winter 2016
3rd Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, Fall 2016
Overall Magazine Design – Special Issues
1st Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, Mid-November 2016
2nd Michelle Houlden, The Western Producer, The Innovation Issue
3rd Donovan Harris, Brent Warren, and Barry Falkner, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, Mid-February 2017
Special Publication Design
1st Rachael Davis, Legacy Magazine, 2015 Annual Report: Celebrating 70 Years
2nd Faith Smith and Elisa Alvarado, United Sorghum Checkoff, 2016 Sorghum Checkoff Annual Report
3rd Michelle Houlden, The Western Producer, CETA
Web Design – Electronic Newsletter/Magazine
1st Leo Nieter, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, “Cuba at the Crossroads” Transformation and Legacy”
2nd Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, MyFarmLife.com
3rd Faith Smith, United Sorghum Checkoff, The Sorghum Scoop
Best Use of Typography
1st Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, “Put Your Power Use Under the Microscope”
2nd Matt Strelecki, Successful Farming, “Got Data?”
3rd Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, “Liquid Gold in the Sunshine State”
Best Use of Chart and Graph Material
1st Amy Gohman, C Magazine, “Acres into Opportunities”
2nd Leo Nieter, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, “Ogallala and Soil Infographics”
3rd Katie Range, Illinois Field & Bean, “A Look Down the Line”
Best Use of Photography in a Print Periodical
1st Richard Williamson, Homestead Magazine
2nd Amy Gohman, C Magazine
3rd Jamie Cole and Leo Nieter, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group
AAEA Designer of the Year, Honorable Mention
Amy Gohman
C Magazine
AAEA Designer of the Year
Matt Strelecki
Successful Farming
2017 AAEA Design Judges
Blake Dinsdale Sam DuRegger Jamie Ezra Mark Gardner Hatch
Valerie Kisling
Renee Martin Kratzer
J O’Brien Carolyn Preul Caysey Welton
AAEA MarComm Awards Program
The AAEA MarComm Awards Program is sponsored by AAEA through funding provided by Agri Marketing, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, Farm Journal, High Plains Journal, Hoard’s Dairyman, Meredith Agrimedia, and Penton Farm Progress.
2017 Winners
Advertorial – One-page
1st Exponent PR – DuPont Crop Protection, Planning Beyond Your Seed Selection
2nd Exponent PR – DuPont Crop Protection, Thrips Control Strategies: Updated Solutions Deliver Lasting Value
3rd Filament Marketing LLC – Purina Animal Nutrition Cattle, Replacement Heifer Advertorial
Advertorial – Multi-page or Special Section
1st Gregg Hillyer & Donovan Harris, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, BASF Innovations From the Field
1st Filament Marketing LLC – Purina Animal Nutrition, Flock Decision Tree
2nd broadhead. , Peanut Grower Inoculant Guide
3rd Amy Roady & Laura Temple, Illinois Soybean Association and MorganMyers, Build That Barn
Media/Special Event
1st DuPont Pioneer with Mikesell Global Communications & The Lacek Group, DuPont Pioneer Virtual Media Tour
2nd Joy Crosby, Whitney Yarbrough, & Jessie Bland, Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Month
3rd Broadhead, Shop With A Farmer
Feature Article
1st Miranda Reiman, Angus Journal, “Riverbend: The Name That Cows Built”
2nd Catherine Merlo, New Holland News, “Redefining the Modern Dairy”
3rd Stephanie Henry, University of Illinois, “Operation Rescue”
News Article
1st Patrick Delaney, American Soybean Association, “Farm to Table: Hunger, Nutrition, and Farm Programs in the Farm Bill”
2nd Filament Marketing LLC – Purina Animal Nutrition Dairy, “Dairy Farmers Reveal Their Next Step to Higher Production”
3rd The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, National U.S. Beef Sustainability Project
News Release
1st Filament Marketing LLC – Purina Animal Nutrition Flock, “Chickens in Schools: How You Can Help”
2nd G&S Business Communications and Syngenta, Palmer Amaranth News Release
3rd Anna Wagner Schliep, Harvest PR & Marketing, “Rainy Harvest Season Lowers Wheat Straw Projections”
Technical Writing
1st Filament Marketing- Purina Animal Nutrition-Cattle, “Three Trimesters That Last a Lifetime: The Story of Your Cow’s Pregnancy”
2nd G&S Business Communications and Syngenta, “Agrisure Traits Digital Brochure”
3rd Barb Baylor Anderson, Anderson & Associates, “Custom Crops”
Publication – Print or Electronic – Not for Profit
1st Meredith Agrimedia, FFA New Horizons Spring 2017
2nd Georgia Peanut Commission, Southeastern Peanut Farmer Jan/Feb 2017
3rd The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Legacy Magazine Winter 2016
Publication – Print or Electronic – For Profit
1st G&S Business Communications and Syngenta, Thrive Magazine
2nd broadhead., Unfenced Magazine
3rd AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, The Hesston Guide to Quality Hay ebook
Media Materials/Kit
1st broadhead, Taking the Field Day to You Media Kit
2nd Trista Cady, Harvest PR & Marketing, Survey Reveals High Acceptance for Phytogenic Feed Additives Among Millenial Foodies
3rd broadhead, Poop-A-Chew Media Kit
Speech/White Paper
1st Catherine Merlo, CoBank, “Genomics: Game-Changer for the Dairy Industry”
2nd Rhea + Kaiser, Grand Opening Speech Chris Tinius
3rd Jessica Wharton, American Soybean Association, “Two Peas in a Pod” – ASA Speech to USB
Writing for Special Projects
1st Julie Blunier, Illinois Soybean Association, “Pod to Plate: The Lifecycle of Soybeans”
2nd Filament Marketing LLC – Purina Animal Nutrition, Flock Guide
3rd Courtney Leeper & J. Adam Calaway, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2015 Annual Report: Celebrating 70 Years
2017 AAEA MarComm Judges
Teresa Araque
Debbie Clayton Felicia Gilham Seth Jones
Julie Kaiser
Jennell Loschke
AAEA Digital & Social Media Awards Program
The AAEA Digital & Social Media Awards Program is sponsored by AAEA through funding provided by Syngenta.
2017 Winners
Digital & Social Media – Marketing Communications Division
Podcasts
1st Exponent PR – WinField United, “Tuning In to Listener Needs: The Deal with Yield”
2nd Charleston|Orwig – Illinois Soybean Association, ILSoy Advisor.com Podcasts
Blogs
1st Faith Smith, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, “Simply Sorghum Blog”
2nd Jessica Wharton, American Soybean Association, “Pod Policy, A Soybean Blog”
3rd Jacqui Fatka, Farm Futures, “DC Dialogue”
Websites
1st Illionois Soybean Association and MorganMyers, Watch Us Grow Redesign
2nd G&S Business Communications and Syngenta, Thrive website
3rd Exponent PR – WinField United, Answer Tech: Bringing Farmers and Retailers Ag Tech News and Insights
Webinars
1st Charleston|Orwig – Illinois Soybean Association, ILSoy Advisor.com Webinar series
Social Media
1st Filament Marketing LLC, Purina Poultry Social Media Ecosystem
2nd broadhead., #PorkPlease
3rd broadhead., Crop Nutrition #Soil Aptitude Tests
Mobile/Tablet Technology Apps
1st Exponent PR – DuPont Crop Protection, DuPont Evalio Field Partner US App
2nd The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ag Tools
Online Media Rooms/ Media Kits/ Media Eventss
1st Faith Smith, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, Simply Sorghum Trade Show Media Kit
Video Production
1st Illinois Soybean Association, Living Ocean Productions, Coleman Communications, and Ichthus Unlimites, “Feeding Bluefin”
2nd broadhead., “#PorkPlease”
3rd Angus Media, “I Am Angus”
Digital & Social Media – Publishing Division
Podcasts
1st Holly Spangler and Emily Webel, Prairie Farmer, “Confessions of a Farm Wife”
2nd Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media, “Stover Makeover”
3rd Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media, “Bridges Built, Alliances Forged: Inside Shepherd’s Grain”
Blogs
1st Kylene Scott, High Plains Publishers Inc., “Kylene’s Blog”
2nd Urban Lehner, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, “An Urban’s Rural View”
3rd Holly Spangler, Penton Farm Progress, “My Generation”
Websites
1st Meredith Agrimedia – Successful Farming at Agriculture.com
2nd Ag Daily, Commercial Farming and Rural Life for Modern Times, www.agdaily.com
3rd Grand View Media, Farming Magazine website
Webinars
1st Hoard’s Dairyman, “Barn Design for Robotic Milking”
2nd Hoard’s Dairyman, “An Update on Raising Better Calves”
3rd Hoard’s Dairyman, “Strategies for Nonpregnancy Diagnosis in Dairy Cows”
Social Media
1st AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, AGCO FarmLife Social Media
2nd Meredith Agrimedia, Successful Farming Facebook
3rd Ag Daily, Social Media from Ag Daily
Mobile/Tablet Technology Apps
1st Colle+McVoy/Exponent PR – CHS, Inc., C Magazine App
2nd AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group, The Hesston Guide to Quality Hay ebook
Multimedia Story
1st Angus Media, “Rural America Rises, March 2017 Wildfire Coverage”
2nd Jessica Scott & David Ekstrom, Successful Farming, “From Fighter to Farmer”
3rd Jennifer Latzke, High Plains Journal, “Plenty of Rounds Left in These Combines”
Video Production
1st Alabama Farmers Federation, “Farming Feeds Alabama”
2nd Simply Southern, “Simply Southern TV Storybook Farm”
3rd Successful Farming, “From Fighter to Farmer”
2017 AAEA Digital & Social Media Judges
Jessie Decker McGavock Edwards Lynette Von Minden Kerry A. O’Connor Jeff Salem
Elaine Symanski
AAEA Photography Awards Program
The AAEA Photography Awards Program is sponsored by AAEA through funding provided by Rabo AgriFinance.
2017 Winners
Portrait/Personality
1st Todd Klassy, Range Magazine
2nd Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
3rd Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
HM Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
HM Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Pictorial
1st Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group
2nd Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
3rd Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
HM Elaine Shein, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
HM Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
HM Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Feature
1st Joel Reichenberger, The Furrow
2st Joel Reichenberger, The Furrow
3rd David Lundquist, C Magazine
HM Ryan Ebert, Hoard’s Dairyman
HM Martha Mintz, Homestead Magazine
Nuts & Bolts – Livestock
1st Lorne McClinton, The Furrow
2nd Sam Wirzba, Last Light Bovine Photography
3rd Todd Klassy, Lifestyles Montana
HM Jamie Cole, AGCO FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group
HM Lorne McClinton, The Furrow
Nuts & Bolts – Crops
1st Todd Klassy, Farm406
2nd Todd Klassy, Farm406
3rd Todd Klassy, Farm406
HM Elaine Shein, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
HM Elaine Shein, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Picture Story/ Photo Sequence/ Photo Essay
1st Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
2nd Joel Reichenberger, The Furrow
3rd Martha Mintz, Homestead Magazine
HM Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
HM David Lundquist, C Magazine
HM Tom Dodge, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Emerging Photographer
1st Catherine Merlo, Acres
2nd Jennifer Latzke, High Plains Journal
3rd Paul Jackson, Michigan Farm News
HM Jill Loehr, Farm Progress
HM Paul Jackson, Michigan Farm News
Photo Illustration
1st Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
1st Matt Strelecki, Meredith Agrimedia
2nd Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
3rd Matt Strelecki, Meredith Agrimedia
HM Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
HM Matt Strelecki, Meredith Agrimedia
HM Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Unpublished Photos
1st Sam Wirzba, Last Light Bovine Photography
2nd Katie Knapp
3rd Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
HM Sam Wirzba, Last Light Bovine Photography
HM Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
HM Gregg Hillyer, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Advertorial Photos
1st Debra Davis, Alabama Farmers Federation
Photo of the Year
Joel Reichenberger, The Furrow
Photographer of the Year
Jim Patrico, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Honorable Mention Photographer of the Year
Rob Mattson, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
2017 Master Photographer Program
Level One
Katy Mumaw
Level Two
Jennifer Latzke
Paul Jackson
Level Three
Marilyn Cummins
Catherine Merlo
Matt Strelelcki
Debra Davis
Level Four
Elaine Shein
Joel Reichenberger
Master Photographer
Todd Klassy
Rob Mattson
2017 Photography Judges
Jeannie Adams-Smith
Bob Elbert
Russell Graves
Andrea Hansen
David Hansen
Steve Woit
2017 AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation
The AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award is designed to honor current and former members of the organization, including those who may be deceased, for outstanding professional and personal achievements and leadership, with specific emphasis on contributions toward improvement of the viability and value of AAEA. This award is reserved for those who have adhered to high standards of professionalism in all aspects of their endeavors. Eight years ago, the American Agricultural Editors’ Association re- instated the Lifetime Achievement Award, which had been given for the first and only time to Wheeler McMillen in 1990.
Paul Queck
Paul Queck began his ag journalism career in 1978 as the Hog Editor for Farm Progress Publication’s Wallaces Farmer in Iowa. Queck went on to have a more than 21-year career as an editor with Farm Progress companies in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York. In late 1999, he left Farm Progress Publications and worked in ag public relations for seven years before moving into freelance writing and photography.
Queck joined AAEA in 1978 and has served on the International Committee and the Legacy Committee, as well as serving as president in 1996. He also served as President of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists from 1997 to 2000, the first American to hold this position. Queck continues to be active with AAEA, currently serving as an advisor to the AAEA PIF Board.
2017 Fellows of the AAEA
The American Agricultural Editors’ Association is proud to announce the selection of two new Fellows of the AAEA. The Fellows Program recognizes members for excellent service to AAEA.
The new AAEA Fellows are:
Elaine Shein, FAAE, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Gil Gullickson, FAAE, Crops Technology Editor, Meredith Corporation
The Fellows were nominated by the 12-member AAEA Legacy Committee. The nominations were then passed onto the AAEA Board of Directors for final approval.
2017 Andy Markwart Horizon Award
The Andy Markwart Horizon Award, presented by the AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF) and John Deere in a matching grant partnership, is an annual award given to an AAEA member who embodies the youthful vigor, energy, passion, dedication and creativity shown by Andy in his volunteer work for AAEA for many years. Andy, editor of The Furrow, died in 2006 from heart problems.
Jessie Scott
Digital Content Manager
Meredith Agrimedia (Successful Farming)
Jessie Scott, who has been with Meredith Corporation for nearly 5 years, created the job title and description that she has today—Digital Content Manager. Scott started as Innovations Editor and quickly moved up the ranks within Meredith, taking on a broader range of responsibilities as a multimedia editor, covering television and online content, in addition to print. Scott now directs one of the leading agricultural websites in the nation at the second largest media group in America.
“I have never witnessed an editor who encompasses that rare combination of a keen desire to work, the ready knowledge to produce high-quality editorial, and determination to excel at every task she is assigned,” wrote one of Scott’s references.
In her application for the Andy Markwart Horizon Award, Scott wrote that she hopes to become a visionary leader that guides a passionate team of editors to create powerful content that can make farmers better, more productive producers. She credits the continual learning opportunities that she’s gained from peers and leaders in the industry at Ag Media Summit and IFAJ congress for helping her to become the leader she aspires to be. Scott is “committed to excellent journalism and in working with clients, customers, and farmers,” wrote another reference.
Scott currently serves as a Young Professionals in Agriculture board member and as the AAEA AMS InfoExpo committee chair. She has been recognized across the industry for her work and was recently awarded the IFAJ Young Leader in Agriculture Journalism Award.
AAEA/ACT Scholarship Program
The AAEA/ACT Scholarship Program is a joint effort of AAEA and the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and is funded by the AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation.
The Jim Evans Scholarship
The top AAEA/ACT scholarship given each year is “The Jim Evans Scholarship.” Dr. Evans has had a tremendous impact on the establishment and growth of agricultural communications programs, and serves as a mentor for hundreds of former and present students. Anyone who meets and visits with Jim comes away with renewed enthusiasm for our industry and a great appreciation for everything he has done for our profession. The recipient is recognized for “excellence in academics and leadership, and for exemplifying the dedication and commitment of the outstanding individual for whom this award is named.”
Jackie Newland
Kansas State University
2017 AAEA/ACT Past Presidents’ Scholarship Recipients
Shalin Lawson, West Texas A&M University
Lindsay Robinson, University of Missouri
Audrey Schmitz, Kansas State University
2017 AAEA Interns
Emily Berger, Texas A&M University double major in Poultry Science and Agricultural Communications & Journalism, served as the AAEA editorial communications intern with Farm Journal Media, Inc. She also assisted with the 2017 Ag Media Summit in Snowbird, Utah
Michaela Simcoe, an Agricultural Communications major and Animal Science minor at South Dakota State University, spent the summer as the AAEA marketing communications intern with broadhead. She also assisted with the 2017 Ag Media Summit in Snowbird, Utah.
AAEA Communications Awards Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors who help fund the AAEA awards programs through the –
Writing Awards:
Syngenta
Design Awards:
DuPont Pioneer
MarComm Awards:
Agri Marketing
DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Farm Journal
High Plains Journal
Hoard’s Dairyman
Meredith Agrimedia
Penton Farm Progress
Digital & Social Media Awards:
Syngenta
Photography Awards: Rabo AgriFinance
Lifetime Achievement Awards:
AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation
Andy Markwart Horizon Award:
John Deere
AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation
Thank you to our hard-working committees:
AAEA Writing Awards Committee
Jamie Cole, Chair
AAEA Design Awards Committee
Matt Strelecki, Chair
AAEA MarComm Awards Committee
Cynthia Clanton, Chair
AAEA Digital & Social Media Awards Committee
Josh Flint, Chair
AAEA Photography Awards Committee
David Ekstrom, Chair
AAEA Legacy Committee
Larry Dreiling, Chair
AAEA Future Ag Communicators Committee
Laurie Bedord, Chair
Thank you to our award program managers, Debbie Alexander and Christine McClintic, and to Samantha Kilgore and Courtney Jackson of the AAEA staff for strong support of the award programs throughout the year.