By Larry Dreiling, AAEA 2001 Past President, AAEA Legacy Committee Chairman
I became a member of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association in 1989. I attended my first “Communications Clinic” in 1990 at Kansas City, Mo., when Wheeler McMillen, legendary editor of Farm Journal, received the first AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award. It was so cool to sit in the crowd and cheer this near centenarian and hear his words of wisdom.
I vividly recall that first time I met up with the wide circle of ag communicators, whom 10 years later I’d be elected to lead. Back then, Missouri Ruralist editor Larry Harper was president and in his element in KC.
I came to know Larry as a serious editor but a fun guy, so it stood to reason that the theme for that Clinic was “Seriously! Lighten Up!” I miss Larry a lot. He was one of the good guys.
I got to meet so many legends in the field, which for a simple local radio-TV anchor from western Kansas who graduated from the state’s “second best ag college” and only recently moved to a big regional farm book was a big deal.
A few years later, I was asked to chair the association’s Legacy Committee, responsible for selecting not only the LAA, but the Distinguished Service Award and our association’s Fellows—our recognition of outstanding mid-career professionals.
Flash forward 30 years later and the Legacy Committee sneaks an LAA at me.
Me! The guy from Hays, Kansas. In there with McMillen and Harper! Do you realize how cool that is?!
For the last few years, I’ve been honored to make the call on behalf of the committee to honor our heroes both in our association and in the wider world of agriculture.
We’re coming up to the June 1 deadline for submission of nominations. We moved it up to give you time to nominate those you think are worthy of these awards. Check out the website to see the names of past honorees.
The forms to help guide your nominations are on the website, too.
Hope to see you in Kansas City as present these awards. I’m sure it will be as special a time as it was for Wheeler McMillen.
Larry Dreiling is an independent journalist and adjunct professor at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.