Top honors presented during the 2026 Agricultural Media Summit in St. Louis
The Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) recognized the best work in agricultural communications at the 2026 Agricultural Media Summit (AMS), July 19–21, in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization honored its top “Of the Year” winners, presented its highest individual honors, welcomed new Fellows and recognized dozens of members advancing through its Master programs.
“In Den, Pamela and Dr. Albert Culbreath, we see everything our profession stands for,” said Joy Crosby, ACN president. “Den and Pamela have helped shape agricultural communications for generations of our members, and Dr. Culbreath’s research has changed farmers’ lives for the better. Celebrating all three of them in St. Louis was a highlight of this year’s ACN Awards Celebration.”
“Of the Year” Award Winners
Communicator of the Year: Julianna Langemeier, Zoetis
Writer of the Year: Lisa Foust Prater, Successful Farming
Designer of the Year: Matt Strelecki, People, Inc.
Photographer of the Year: Betty Haynes, Midwestern Lens
Story of the Year: “Small Groups, Big Outcomes,” Lisa Foust Prater, Successful Farming
Photo of the Year: “Harvest Hugs,” Betty Haynes, Midwestern Lens
Special Honors
Lifetime Achievement Award: Den Gardner, Gardner & Gardner Communications, and Pamela Smith, DTN/Progressive Farmer. The Lifetime Achievement Award is ACN’s highest recognition for members whose careers have left a lasting mark on agricultural communications.
An ACN member since 1975, Gardner edited Farm Industry News, Ag Retailer Magazine and Minnesota Agriculture, founded Gardner & Gardner Communications in 1995 and led American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) as executive director from 2000 to 2016.
Smith, crops editor at DTN/Progressive Farmer since 2012, has spent close to five decades covering the issues that matter most to farmers, beginning at Prairie Farmer in 1977 and reporting for Farm Journal from 1983 to 2012.
Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award: Dr. Albert Culbreath, University of Georgia. The award honors an individual outside the profession whose work has significantly advanced agriculture. A research plant pathologist at the University of Georgia, Culbreath is recognized internationally for his work on tomato spotted wilt virus. He helped lead the team that created the Spotted Wilt Risk Index — now known as Peanut Rx — an integrated pest management tool, still updated each year, that is widely credited with helping save the Southeast’s peanut industry.
President’s Award: Elizabeth Hodges, Farm Progress. The President’s Award is presented by the president to someone who has shown tremendous commitment to ACN and helped the organization achieve its mission.
Andy Markwart Horizon Award: Andrew Castillo, Farm Progress. The Horizon Award recognizes a rising professional early in their agricultural communications career.
New Fellows of ACN
ACN conferred the distinction of Fellow — recognizing longtime membership and excellent service — on six members: Pam Caraway, Chris Clayton, Jamie Cole, Martha Mintz, Holly Spangler and Bill Spiegel.
Honorary Life Membership
ACN also conferred Honorary Life Membership — recognizing distinguished, long-standing contributions to the organization — on 13 members: JoAnn Alumbaugh, Joe Dan Boyd, Larry Dreiling, Betsy Freese, Den Gardner, Gregg Hillyer, Greg Lamp, Karen McMahon, Jim Patrico, Jack Pitzer, Paul Queck, Kelly Schwalbe and Pamela Smith.
Student Scholarships
ACN presented three student scholarships at AMS. Maddie Weber, University of Nebraska, received the Dr. James Evans Scholarship, a $3,000 award made possible by an endowment from ACN member Lyle E. Orwig. Mindy Wells, Kansas State University, and Tayla Wiedeman, Texas Tech University, each received a $2,000 Past Presidents’ Scholarship, funded through donations to the ACN Professional Improvement Foundation.
Master Program Recognitions
A total of 65 members earned new-level recognitions across the Master Communicator (44), Master Photographer (7), and Master Writer (14) programs. Among the highlights, Leigh Ann Cleaver, Mod Op, reached Level 6 — Communicator of Merit, only the second member ever to achieve the distinction.
Complete Winners List
A complete list of all category winners — across Writing, Photography, Design, Digital & Social Media, and Marketing Communications — is available here.
About the Agricultural Communicators Network
The Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) is a professional development organization serving the people who tell agriculture’s story. Through its annual Communications Contest and Awards, professional development programming and the Agricultural Media Summit, ACN advances excellence and connection across the agricultural communications profession.