By Larry Dreiling, AAEA Legacy Chair
While so many of us are preparing our stories and images for the AAEA Design, MarComm, Photography, and Writing awards, the AAEA Legacy Committee is looking to all members to nominate their heroes for the AAEA Distinguished Service and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Through the AAEA Distinguished Service Award, we honor an individual who is a leader and gives something back to the agricultural community with the AAEA Distinguished Service Award. This award is sponsored by ADM.
The committee seeks someone still active in agriculture rather than part of the distant past; someone who shows significant potential for becoming an agricultural leader; and someone who would consider the award meaningful, be willing to accept the award at the Agricultural Media Summit and be videotaped at his/her home or office sometime this summer.
While contributions to the industry are important, service to the agricultural community is equally important. A nominee’s interests, like those of many past recipients, should include giving something back to their community.
The AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award is designed to honor current and former members of the organization, including those who may be deceased, for outstanding professional and personal achievements and leadership, with specific emphasis on contributions toward improvement of the viability and value of AAEA. This award is reserved for those who have adhered to high standards of professionalism in all aspects of their endeavors. It is sponsored by CHS Inc.
The award differs from the AAEA Fellows program, in that our Fellows are mid-career members, while Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are generally rewarded here for a full lifetime of service and leadership.
Members may be nominated by another member, or they may nominate themselves for the award. The AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award is open to all members based on the following criteria:
– Years of membership in AAEA
– Leadership activity within AAEA
– Achievements in AAEA-sponsored professional improvement award programs (writing, photography, design, etc.)
– Involvement in AAEA-sponsored professional improvement activities (annual meetings, regional workshops, writing workshops, design workshops, etc.)
– Participation in and achievements in non-AAEA professional activities
– Participation in and achievements in personal activities outside of AAEA and the ag communications profession
– Contributions to AAEA that have helped make the organization a better, more viable and more valuable organization
The AAEA Legacy Committee will select the winner(s) and may, at their discretion, select to honor up to three nominees annually, including at least one deceased member.
It’s the heroes both within and outside the communications industry that make agriculture so wonderful. The committee would love to learn of your heroes.
The deadline for nominations for 2017 awards is April 10. To enter a nomination, send a letter and any references you might have to Legacy Committee Chair Larry Dreiling at [email protected]. For questions, you may also call 785-628-1117.