Alltech awards young leaders in agricultural communications at 2019 Ag Media Summit

University of Arkansas student selected for 2019 Forrest Bassford Student Award

Alltech Cultivating Young Ag Journalists Awards presented to industry professionals 

[MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.] – As a voice for the farmers and ranchers who work hard to feed our growing world every day, agriculture communicators help educate the public on how food is produced. Both traditional and new media channels allow for these stories to be shared and amplified beyond borders — and students and young professionals are leading the charge. 

During the 2019 Ag Media Summit (AMS), held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 27–31, Alltech honored young leaders in agricultural communications with the Livestock Publications Council (LPC) Forrest Bassford Student Award and the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) Alltech Cultivating Young Ag Journalists Awards.

The LPC Forrest Bassford Student Award, sponsored by Alltech, honors excellence, professionalism and leadership among students. The 2019 LPC Forrest Bassford Student Award was presented to Jessica Wesson, an agricultural communications and agricultural leadership student at the University of Arkansas and she will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

“I was humbled to receive an award named in honor of such an influential person in the Livestock Publications Council. Mr. Bassford clearly had a passion for agriculture communications much like I do,” said Wesson. “This award is an honor for students to receive, and I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my college.”

Wesson’s passion for agriculture began early in life as she was involved in 4-H and grew up showing livestock. In high school she was an active member in her FFA chapter and began writing press releases for the local newspapers, expanding her photography skills and practicing media relations.

Every year, following a competitive application process, the LPC Student Award Program provides travel scholarships for four students to attend the AMS. In addition to Wesson, this year's travel award winners were:

• Natalie Ayers, University of Missouri-Columbia
• Sadie Lackey, University of Georgia
• Grace Vehige, University of Arkansas

In support of young professionals, the AAEA Alltech Cultivating Young Ag Journalists Award provides the opportunity for active AAEA agricultural journalists who are 45 years old or younger to receive a travel stipend to attend the AMS, as well as an invitation to attend ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, held each May in Lexington, Kentucky.

The 2019 AAEA Alltech Cultivating Young Ag Journalists Award recipients were:

• Megan Vollstedt, Successful Farming
• Ryan Tipps, AgDaily
• Marlee Moore, Alabama Farmers Federation
• Michelle Miller, The Farm Babe and AgDaily
• Diane Meyer, American Hereford Association

“Alltech is proud to support the future of agricultural communicators as the ambassadors and voice of our industry, as they share stories from farmers and ranchers in a time when the vast majority of consumers are generations removed from the farm,” said Jenn Norrie, Alltech’s communications manager for North America.

The 21st annual Ag Media Summit also hosted the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Annual Congress. With the addition of the IFAJ, who joined The Agricultural Communicators Network, the AAEA, the LPC and the Connectiv Agri-Media Committee, more than 700 media and communications professionals were estimated to have been in attendance at the 2019 AMS.

-Ends-

Contact: press@alltech.com

Jenn Norrie

Communications Manager, North America

jnorrie@alltech.com; 1-403-863-8547

Photo Caption: https://photos.alltech.com/pf.tlx/kfOke1kL0f6SR

The 2019 Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award was presented to Jessica Wesson (right) of the University of Arkansas by Jenn Norrie (left), Alltech communications manager for North America, during the Ag Media Summit, held in in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 27–31, 2019.

Photo Caption: https://photos.alltech.com/pf.tlx/iLi4mixGDsgd

The 2019 Livestock Publications Council Student Award Program travel scholarship award winners (right to left): Grace Vehige, University of Arkansas; Natalie Ayers, University of Missouri-Columbia; Sadie Lackey, University of Georgia; and the 2019 Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award recipient, Jessica Wesson, University of Arkansas with Jenn Norrie, Alltech communications manager for North America, during the Ag Media Summit, held in in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 27–31, 2019.

Photo Caption: https://photos.alltech.com/pf.tlx/jRjlbjVHU1x

The 2019 American Agricultural Editors’ Association Alltech Cultivating Young Ag Journalists Award recipients (right to left): Megan Vollstedt, Successful Farming; Ryan Tipps, AgDaily; and Michelle Miller, The Farm Babe and AgDaily; with Jenn Norrie, Alltech communications manager for North America. (Missing: Marlee Moore, Alabama Farmers Federation and Diane Meyer, American Hereford Association).

About Alltech:

Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech is a cutting-edge technology company in a traditional industry, agriculture. Our products improve the health and nutrition of plants and animals, resulting in more nutritious products for people as well as less impact on the environment. 

With expertise in yeast fermentation, solid state fermentation and the sciences of nutrigenomics and metabolomics, Alltech is a leading producer of yeast additives, organic trace minerals, feed ingredients, premix and feed.

Together, with our more than 5,000 talented team members worldwide, we believe in “Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.” With the adoption of new technologies, the adaptation of better farm management practices and the ingenuity inherent in the human spirit, we believe a world of abundance could be ours.

Alltech is a private, family-owned company, which allows us to adapt quickly to our customers’ needs and stay focused on advanced innovation. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world. For further information, visit www.alltech.com/news. Join us in conversation on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.