By Steve Werblow
Steve Werblow Communications
It was a profound honor and a real surprise to be named an IFAJ Fellow at the Ag Media Summit in July, joining the ranks of friends and professionals I have admired throughout my career. It was a special treat to share the honor with Kenna Rathai—one of the most delightful people I know—and Den Gardner, who has been a guiding light for AAEA at every level throughout the years. They’re two special people who are the very embodiment of AAEA in my mind.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was a newly minted public relations guy stepping into my first AAEA annual meeting in the late ’80s. (I didn’t have a single gray hair then, so we know it was a while back!) I was awed meeting the people whose bylines I had been reading and whose photos I had studied, and a little envious of the camaraderie they shared. Clearly this was a close-knit group, and clearly I had a lot to learn.
What impressed me then and inspires me now is how many people welcomed me into the industry, as much of an outsider as I was. By the time I went freelance, I realized that AAEA was going to be an even bigger part of my life and career. After all, I’d traded in a lively office at Gibbs & Soell for a quiet desk in rural Oregon, so connecting with people in the industry was going to be as vital for my sanity as it would be for my business. (It still is. On both counts.)
Around that time, AAEA taught me the truth in the old adage about how it’s better to give than to receive. Getting involved in committees and boards gave me a chance to help extend the organizations’ benefits to more people…many of them new members finding their way in our organization and our industry, and others seasoned professionals with so much insight to share. Becoming active in AAEA has also allowed me to build friendships with some of my favorite people on earth, working side by side and sharing adventures all over the globe.
So please forgive me if I get a little sentimental—and very humbled—about being named an AAEA Fellow. It means a lot to me to have been named among a group of people I admire, appreciate and enjoy so much.
When she presented me with an AAEA Fellow pin back in July, Betsy Freese made it clear this wasn’t some sort of career-end capstone.
What a relief.
It’s not just because I don’t think I’m that old. It’s that I’m not done with AAEA yet. Every year, I’m inspired by the new people I meet and the long-time friends I reconnect with. I’m looking forward to more of the fun, friendship and learning that have made AAEA such a big part of my life through the years. I’ll be reading the ByLine, listening to the podcast, and seeing you in Kansas City.