By ACN Past President Betsy Freese
Last year I was thrilled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Agricultural Communicators Network. What a surprise it was when Larry Dreiling called me with the news. I had recently announced my retirement from Successful Farming, and the LAA honor, presented during Ag Media Summit, was perfect timing. I am so grateful.
My job this year is to urge you to nominate people in your circle of ag communicators who have helped you and our organization. Who has served on committees with you? What leaders have encouraged you in your career? Fill out the nomination form for the LAA award.
If you don’t have all the information on the work your nominee has done over the years, others in our organization can help you out. Pair up with another person to fill out the form. I have teamed up with others to nominate three previous award winners. It’s fun and gratifying to see your mentors honored.
Remember, you can also nominate ag communicators who are not ACN members (yet) for the Distinguished Service Award. The deadline to submit nominations for both awards is Friday, May 13th. Send in your forms soon!
Click here to learn more about the ACN Lifetime Achievement Award and the Distinguished Service Awards, and to download each nomination form.
Betsy Freese was President of the Ag Communicators Network in 2004. She also served, and continues to serve, on several ACN committees. Freese received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2021 ACN Communication Awards ceremony.
She also recently retired after working for more than 30 years in print, radio, and TV with Successful Farming.