By Katie Knapp, ACN board member and international committee chair
Andy Castillo, of Farm Progress, has been named one of this year’s 10 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders. The other nine winners span IFAJ’s more than 60 member-country guilds.
Since 2005, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and Alltech have partnered to support the Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award, which recognizes the leadership potential of young members from countries belonging to IFAJ.
“Alltech is proud to partner with IFAJ to support the Young Leaders program, as we all share a commitment to supporting journalists who give voice to farmers and producers and ensure that agriculture stories continue to be told around the world,” said Jenn Norrie, North American and European communications manager at Alltech.
The winners also participate in a unique professional development workshop immediately prior to the IFAJ Congress. The workshop, led by IFAJ Presidium leaders, emphasizes reporting skills and leadership training and includes agriculture tours.
“Since its inception, Young Leader alumni have consistently shown what can only be described as a robust return on investment,” said Adrian Bell, IFAJ secretary general. “Through leadership, influence, insight, inspiration and innovation, they are the ones who will carry forward the flame for IFAJ and agricultural journalism.”
When the ACN International Committee put Castillo forward as the American nominee, members agreed on his potential. As one committee member put it: “His involvement in ACN has grown exponentially. I think we’ll see this investment in his development further ACN’s leadership base soon.” Another added, “I don’t know how ACN cannot send either its top emerging writer or photographer to the IFAJ Congress.”
Castillo joins the long list of AAEA and ACN members who have won the award.
2026 Andy Castillo
2025 Chelsea Dinterman
2024 Courtney Girgis
2023 Betty Haynes
2022 Megan Schilling
2021 Wyatt Bechtel
2019 Kasey Brown
2018 Katie Knapp
2017 Jessie Scott
2016 Sarah Hill
2015 Candace Weeda
2014 Amy Roady
2013 Jennifer Latzke
2012 Christy Couch Lee
2011 Holly Spangler
2008 Carey Brown
Photo by Katie Knapp
-Knapp is a freelance writer, photographer and owner of The Ag Photographer.