On more than one occasion as an undergraduate at ISU, I was mockingly asked if a major in agricultural communications meant I talked to plants and animals…
While a component of the discipline does involve being knowledgeable about crop and livestock production, a career in ag comm is so much more than that.
This summer alone I traveled over 5,000 miles meeting and interviewing farmers and ranchers across the Midwest.
From my home territory in Iowa, to the wheat fields of Kansas and the wide open plains of Wyoming, my tour allowed me to capture the unique stories of the hardworking men and women that feed and fuel a growing global population.
With a professional camera crew as my travel companions, I felt like a sophisticated news correspondent covering the triumphs and tragedies of American agriculture.
If you listen intently and ask the right questions, it’s extremely rewarding the way humble farmers and ranchers will open up to you about their livelihoods. For example, sharing about the farm accident that took their father’s life, or the many sacrifices made to keep a ranch running since it was first homesteaded in the early 1900s.
by the stunning Wyoming countryside.
These are people that upon arrival were complete strangers, but warmly welcomed me into their hearts and homes to share their memories, a cup of coffee around the kitchen table or a slice of homemade banana bread, fresh out of the oven.
Farm and ranch families account for less than 2 percent of the U.S. population. Although many are initially shy in front of a camera, it is moving to watch them become animated as they find their voice and passionately describe their way of life.
To me, that’s what agricultural communications truly represents – sharing the story of food and farming through the eyes of the determined individuals who live it everyday.
As an agricultural communicator, it is a privilege that I get to shake hands, share laughs and occasionally shed a tear with these salt of the earth people. I feel fortunate that they allow me to get a glimpse into a day in the life of their operations.
These are the moments that make me proud to be one of agriculture’s storytellers. Yes, it’s about the plants and animals, but more importantly, it’s about the people.