You’ve heard their voices on ACN’s revamped podcast “Above the Fold,” now meet the people behind the mics!
Above the Fold covers stories and trends making headlines around the ag media industry. Spotlighting those popular topics are our knowledgeable, professional, and unshakeable Podcast Co-Hosts ACN Member Kelsey Litchfield and ACN Past President Holly Spangler.
Both women have decades of expertise in agriculture and ag media. Learn more about these ACN Members who are taking the podcast airwaves by storm…
Holly Spangler is the Executive Editor for Farm Progress
and editor of Prairie Farmer Magazine.
She was President of the Ag Communicators Network in 2014.
(Courtesy: Holly Spangler)
Holly Spangler has covered Illinois agriculture for more than two decades, bringing meaningful production agriculture experience to the magazine’s coverage. She currently serves as editor of Prairie Farmer magazine and Executive Editor for Farm Progress, managing editorial staff at six magazines throughout the eastern Corn Belt. She began her career with Prairie Farmer just before graduating from the University of Illinois in agricultural communications.
An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is a past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association, now known as the Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN). In 2015, she became only the 10th U.S. agricultural journalist to earn the Writer of Merit designation and is a five-time winner of the top writing award for editorial opinion in U.S. agriculture. She was named an ACN Master Writer in 2005. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award.
She currently serves on the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation, the University of Illinois (U of I) Agricultural Communications Advisory committee, and is an advisory board member for the U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Research Station at Monmouth. Her work in agricultural media has been recognized by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Council on Agricultural Education, and the MidAmerica Croplife Association.
Holly and Kelsey have worked together before. The duo launched the inaugural ACN Podcast as co-hosts in February 2019. “I’m excited to be back in the saddle with Kelsey again and coming up with some new ideas,” Holly said. “I love having deep conversations with wise people so I’m looking forward to all our upcoming series.”
Holly and her husband, John, have a farm in western Illinois where they raise corn, soybeans and beef cattle on 2,500 acres. Their operation includes 125 head of commercial cows in a cow/calf operation. The family farm includes John’s parents and their three children.
Holly frequently speaks to a variety of groups and organizations, sharing the heart, soul and science of agriculture. She and her husband are active in state and local farm organizations. They serve with their local 4-H and FFA programs, their school district, and are active in their church’s youth and music ministries.
Kelsey Litchfield is the Chief Communicator at Colleen Callahan Consultancy
and recently launched her own full-service audio and production studio called C3 Studios.
Kelsey has been an active member of ACN for several years.
(Courtesy: Kelsey Litchfield)
Kelsey Litchfield is chief communicator at Colleen Callahan Consultancy with the mission to “communicate, collaborate, and connect.” She works with businesses in agriculture and Rural America to strengthen their skills to become more effective communicators, presenters, and leaders. She also recently launched C3 Studios – a full-service audio and podcast production studio.
Raised in a small farming community in central Illinois, Kelsey worked for her dad’s businesses and helped on her grandparents’ farm. Her greatest life lessons came from those experiences, and she credits her upbringing for the hard-working and efficient individual she is today.
Kelsey received her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Internships with RFD Radio Network, Illinois Farm Bureau, National FFA, and Colleen Callahan Consultancy fueled her passion for agricultural journalism, storytelling, and consulting.
She’s excited to be behind the mic again as cohost of ACN’s Above the Fold Podcast. “Podcasting opens the door to new perspectives, and I want this podcast to be an exchange of conversations and ideas that inspire our audience into action,” Kelsey stated.
Kelsey is an active member of ACN-The Ag Communicators Network and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Kelsey was awarded the AAEA Dr. Jim Evans Scholarship and the NAFB Orion Samuelson Scholarship respectively. She is also a 4-H and FFA alumna and proudly earned her American Degree.
Kelsey continues to be active on the family farm and shows antique Ford Tractors with her family. She proudly serves on her local church and township boards. Kelsey enjoys spending time with her Australian Shepherd, Lexie, and traveling.