ACN Communications Awards
2025 Winners
The winners were announced at the 2025 Ag Media Summit on July 29, 2025. Below is a complete list of all the winners.
“Of the Year” Winners
Communicator of the Year: Lindsay Graber Runft, Certified Angus Beef
Designer of the Year: Amy Gohman, Colle McVoy
Story of the Year: “Rays of Hope: Shedding Light On Rural Mental Health Challenges” by Anthony Greder, Pamela Smith, Todd Neeley, Todd Hultman, Katie Dehlinger, Mike Watkins, Dave Vrbas, DTN/Progressive Farmer
Writer of the Year: Katie Knapp, The Furrow
Photo of the Year: “Branded Sunrise” by Rob Mattson, Noble Research Institute
Photographer of the Year: Rob Mattson, Noble Research Institute
Distinguished Service Award: Aaron Hager, Professor, Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois
Lifetime Achievement Award: Gregg Hillyer, editor-in-chief, The Progressive Farmer
Andy Markwart Horizon Award: Courtney Girgis, Founder of Rooted Communications
View the 2025 Writing winners here.
View the 2025 Photography winners here.
View the 2025 DSM winners here.
View the 2025 Design winners here.
View the 2025 MarComm winners here.
View the complete list of 2025 winners here.
Click here to see the 2025 “Best of the Rest.”
Special Thanks to Our 2025 Awards Sponsors!
2024 Winners
The winners were announced during an ACN lunch and at the 2024 Ag Media Summit Awards Banquet & Lunch Banquet on August 6. Below is a complete list of all the winners and photos of the 2024 Ag Media Summit taken by ACN Member Chuck Zimmerman.
Of the Year Winners:
- Communicator of the Year: Katrina Huffstutler, Grant Company
- Designer of the Year: Rachael Davis, Noble Research Institute
- Story of the Year: Mike Wilson, Farm Progress
- Writer of the Year: Mike Wilson, Farm Progress
- Photo of the Year: Steve Werblow, The Furrow
- Photographer of the Year: Katie Knapp, The Furrow
Service Award Winners:
- Distinguished Service Award: Posthumously awarded to George Rehm, University of Minnesota (U of M) Extension Soil Fertility Specialist
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Schwalbe, Retired PR Professional
Andy Markwart Horizon Award Winner:
- Wyatt Bechtel, Broadhead
View the 2024 Writing winners here.
View the 2024 Photography winners here.
View the 2024 DSM winners here.
View the 2024 Design winners here.
View the 2024 MarComm winners here.
View the list of 2024 winners here.
2023 Winners
The winners were announced during an ACN ceremony and at the 2023 AMS Closing Banquet on August 2, 2023. Below is a list of winners.
Of the Year Winners:
- Writer of The Year – Steve Werblow, The Furrow
- Story of The Year – “Making hay was a part of his flight plan”, Amber Friedrichsen, Hay & Forage Grower
- Photographer of the Year – Martha Mintz, Corral Creek Communications
- Photo of the Year – Joel Reichenberger, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
- Designer of the Year – Rachael Davis, Noble Research Institute
- Communicator of the Year – Jamie Cole, Red Barn Media Group
Service Award Winners:
- Distinguished Service Award – Don Wirth
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Greg Lamp and Karen McMahon
Andy Markwart Horizon Award Winner:
- Betty Haynes, Prairie Farmer
View the Past Years Communications Awards Winners!
Click Here to See List of 2023 Awards Winners!
Click Here to See List of 2022 Awards Winners!
Click Here to See List of 2021 Awards Winners!
Click Here to See List of 2020 Awards Winners!