Are You Willing to Speak to Future Ag Communicators?
By Courtney Girgis, Future Ag Communicators Committee Chair
One of my first assignments as a freshman agricultural journalism student at the University of Missouri was to find and interview an ag communications professional. Just a year prior, I had not even realized ag communications was a career field. That’s a story for a different day, but the point is: I had no connections.
Fortunately, my roommate told me her aunt was an ag journalist. She could make the connection. Those words brought much relief, and, looking back, I see how blessed I was. That ag journalist was Shauna Hermel, an incredible editor at the American Angus Association and an award-winning member of the Ag Communicators Network.
My initial conversation with Shauna through that freshman assignment led to a relationship fostered through our mutual involvement in ACN, and I continue to learn from, admire, and find encouragement from my interactions with her.
This fall, a group of Tarleton State University ag communications students completed a similar assignment. You may have seen some of them reaching out via social media to find a contact. One student reached out directly to ACN and, a few emails later, Joel Reichenberger, senior editor of Progressive Farmer, stepped up to the call.
These serendipitous connections will always be important, but what if we had a more efficient way to organize, to make connections between ourselves and the upcoming generations of ag communicators?
Add Your Name to the ACN Speakers Bureau
A conversation in an ACN board meeting sparked the idea of an ACN Speakers Bureau. This would be a resource we provide to college faculty, a list of ACN members willing to talk to students, whether one-on-one for an assignment or in a group setting.
Professors and ACT chapters are always looking for their next guest speaker – someone who can bring the real world into the classroom. Could this person be you?
If you are interested in connecting with ag communications students as a guest speaker or, more generally, as a resource ag comm professors could call upon as needed, I encourage you to add your name to the ACN Speakers Bureau by filling out this Google spreadsheet.
Add your name, company, title, location and contact information. In the “areas of expertise / topics of interest,” list subjects you have experience in and would be willing to talk about to students. The notes section is where you can add any additional information that you want college faculty to know about you and what you’re willing to share.
Jacqueline Aenlle, Kansas State University ACT advisor and Future Ag Communicators Committee advisory member, recommends noting whether you are willing to speak in person, remotely (via Zoom), or either; the length of time you are able/willing to speak for; and your educational background.
Next Steps
We will share this spreadsheet with our list of college and ACT contacts in the next few weeks. We will direct college faculty to use the form to connect directly with ACN members then, if you are contacted, you and the college faculty can line out details case-by-case.
Where appropriate, we would appreciate you sharing with students a little about ACN, what it offers, and what it has meant to you. We are preparing an “About ACN” slide deck, which we will send to those who sign up by Dec. 15. If you sign up after that or do not receive an email from someone on the FAC committee, please contact me at [email protected].
This spreadsheet will act as a living document, so feel free to edit your information or remove your name as needed.
If you have a chance to visit with students and/or learn something that may be valuable in ACN’s efforts to connect with the next generation, I’d love to hear about it. Email me with your thoughts anytime at [email protected].
To connect with students, add your name to the list: ACN Speakers Bureau