ACN’s ”Above the Fold”

Paying it Forward

Have you ever attended the Ag Media Summit paid in part by AAEA? Or received an AAEA scholarship? If so, thank the members of the AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF). The nonprofit organization funds a variety of programs and opportunities for members and students in the ag communication industry. As AAEA Committee Co-Chair and PIF Recipient Megan Schilling explains now is the time to pay it forward and make a donation to PIF on #GivingTuesday. 

Combining Science and Communication From AAEA Distinguished Service Award Winner Dr. Kevin Folta

An accomplished scientist at a young age, Dr. Kevin Folta, now chairman of the Horticultural Department at the University of Florida, combines science and communication to deliver impactful messages to students and the public. However, sharing those messages hasn't always been easy.

A Lifetime of Achievements for AAEA Past President Betsy Freese

AAEA 2004 Past President / Member Betsy Freese is the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

Freese shares the secret behind her 30-plus year career in the Ag Communications industry – and what she plans on doing next.

The Art Behind Crafting Award Winning Articles with AAEA Past President Gil Gullickson

Gil Gullickson has mastered the art of crafting award-winning articles. At the 2021 Ag Media Summit, the AAEA 2020-2021 Past President was named “Writer of the Year." He received six awards total in both writing and photography categories.

In honor of Gil's success, we're revisiting an interview with him shortly after he won a 2020 AAEA Communication Writing Award for an article titled, "Yours, Mine and Ours." The piece also received the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) 2020 AgTech Reporting Award.

Gil shares how the article came together and provides tips on creative writing techniques. 

2021 AMS: See You in Kansas City!

For the first time in two years, AAEA Members and special guests will meet in person at the Ag Media Summit in Kansas City, Missouri! The conference will take place at the Loews Hotel, July 31-August 4. On this episode of the Ag Communicators Network Podcast, AMS Steering Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Carrico gives us a sneak peek at some of the event's highlights, including new conference sessions, key networking meet-and-greets and exciting ceremonies and celebrations! Stay tuned!

The Comfort and Discomfort of Using Social Media

It can take less than one minute for a single post to go viral—either boosting an organization's reach to new audiences, or sparking a heated discussion and discontent within a group. Getting comfortable with the reality of that potential discomfort is just one of the many components of being a part of the social media world.

AGDAILY Managing Editor Ryan Tipps shares some suggestions for creating conversational content that engages audiences in discussion, while acknowledging differing opinions.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Stories:

Future Farmers of America News

 

Agriculture and Race: The complexities of rhetoric and reaction

The relationship between cancel culture and agriculture: It's complicated

Burger King's ad is blowing up in the ag community—and not in a good way

The power of social media: Burger King tours real agriculture


Social Media Accounts:

Facebook:

TDF Honest Farming

Buzzard's Beat

Farm Babe

Know Ideas Media

American Farm Bureau

Instagram:

Food Science Babe: @foodsciencebabe

The Grateful Farm Wife: @thegratefulfarmwife

Mary Pat Sass (formerly the Millennium Farm Wife):@marypat.sass

 

 

Reaching Your Target Audience

Journalists compete with hobbies, family, technology and other interests to grab their audiences' attention, especially since we're living in the "age of distraction." In this episode, award winning Writer and Photographer Holly Spangler shares her strategies for creating content that resonates with her readers. She is an executive editor with Farm Progress, senior editor of Prairie Farmer and was named an AAEA “Master Writer” in 2005 and 2015. Holly was also past president of the Ag Communicators Network in 2014.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Interview Tips
http://agcommnetwork.com/10-interview-tips-from-the-pros/

Favorite Stories:

The "Voice of Agriculture" retires
https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/voice-agriculture-retires

Why aren’t land values in the tank?
https://www.farmprogress.com/land-management/why-aren-t-land-values-tank

Could climate change be good for Midwest agriculture?
https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/could-climate-change-be-good-midwest-agriculture

The combine in the living room
https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/combine-living-room

Beware the rural outrage cycle
https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/beware-rural-outrage-cycle

Podcasts:

NPR Fresh Air with Terry Gross

 https://www.npr.org/podcasts/381444908/fresh-air

Skimm’d from the Couch
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/skimmd-from-the-couch/id1345547675

Will We See Each Other This Year?

It’s been just about a year since most of us have had a chance to gather for a group event. Uncertainty still remains as to if, and how, in-person meetings will take place. In this episode of the Ag Communicators Network Podcast expert event planner Tina Bowling shares how her clients are planning events for the coming year. Tina is the president of Innovative Association Management Solutions (IAM Solutions) and is the new conference manager for the Ag Media Summit.

 

What's in a Name

What’s in a name? Everything. Award-winning photographer Katie Knapp talks about how she chose her business name – The Ag Photographer—and used a branding consultant to refine her business. In this episode of the Ag Communicators Network Podcast, Katie shares her insights on why freelancers need to establish a brand—a message that is deeper than a logo and a website.

Katie’s COVID photography project

Branding Your Freelance Business

A brand is more than a logo, website and customer service. It’s an experience based on intangible factors like emotion, authenticity and human connection that differentiates one business from another. In this episode of the Ag Communicators Network Podcast award-winning freelance writer and photographer, Martha Mintz shares the strategies she has used to brand her business and keep a full book of work.

Links to article and photos:

T-Bones and T-Rexes
www.johndeerejournal.com/2015/12/tbone_and_trex_fossils_in_montana/

 

Update to T-Bones and T-Rexes
www.businessinsider.com/dueling-dinosaurs-fossil-t-rex-triceratops-bought-6-million-2020-11

 

Photograph

Corral Creek Communications (Martha Mintz) - 507 Photos - Writing Service - 59102 (facebook.com)