The annual Ag Media Summit recognized the exceptional talent within the Farm Progress editorial team, honoring their significant contributions across various communication disciplines. This event serves as a premier gathering for agricultural communicators, providing a platform to celebrate outstanding achievements in reporting, visual storytelling, and strategic engagement within the industry.
Celebrating Excellence: Farm Progress's Triumphs at the Agricultural Communicators Network Awards
Farm Progress Dominates Agricultural Communication Awards
At the recent Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) Communication Awards program, held on July 29, 2025, in Rogers, Arkansas, the Farm Progress team demonstrated remarkable journalistic skill by securing multiple top honors. This annual summit is a pivotal event where leading agricultural media professionals from across the nation converge to highlight their finest work in categories spanning writing, photography, design, and digital content.
Editorial Leadership Shines: Holly Spangler's Notable Achievements
Holly Spangler, the esteemed executive editor for Prairie Farmer, was a standout performer, earning several prestigious awards. Her insightful article, \"AFBF votes to expel Illinois Farm Bureau,\" garnered first place in the Breaking News category, showcasing her ability to deliver timely and impactful reporting. Additionally, her compelling editorial, \"Wind restrictions could save our weed control,\" secured second place in Editorial Opinion. Spangler's consistent excellence also earned her an Honorable Mention for the 2025 Writer of the Year. Beyond her award-winning contributions, she played an active role as a panelist in a workshop focused on leveraging relationships, public records, and the First Amendment for comprehensive journalistic coverage, further solidifying her influence in the field.
Commitment to Quality: A Message from Leadership
Mike Wilson, the senior executive editor for Farm Progress, emphasized the team's unwavering commitment to providing valuable agricultural information. He stated that the numerous awards reflect the team's dedication to creating content that is both timely and relevant, enabling their audience to make well-informed decisions. This ethos underpins every piece, from breaking stories to in-depth opinion pieces, ensuring that farmers and agricultural professionals receive the insights they need.
Embracing Innovation: AI and Industry Trends
The summit also featured discussions on emerging technologies and their impact on agricultural communication. Eric Braun, senior executive of content at Farm Progress, participated in a workshop titled \"The Race to AI: How to successfully use AI within your organization.\" His involvement underscores Farm Progress's proactive approach to integrating advanced tools and strategies to enhance content delivery and organizational efficiency in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Leadership Transition and Continued Success within ACN
The event marked a significant transition for the ACN, as Pam Caraway, executive editor of Farm Futures, concluded her tenure as president. Her successor, Joy Crosby, extended congratulations for Caraway's dedicated service. Caraway herself received a third-place award in the Economics and Management category for her article, \"Lasso the Love,\" further highlighting the depth of talent within the Farm Progress family.
Recognizing a Broad Spectrum of Editorial Talent
The accolades extended across the entire Farm Progress editorial team, with many members achieving Master Writer designations, a testament to their profound expertise and consistent high-quality output. The comprehensive list of awardees showcases the diverse skills and specialized knowledge that characterize the Farm Progress staff, reaffirming their collective excellence in agricultural journalism.
Writing Contest Achievements Across Diverse Categories
In the 2025 Writing Contest, Farm Progress staff secured top placements in several key areas. Holly Spangler's investigative piece on the AFBF's decision regarding the Illinois Farm Bureau took first place in Breaking News, while her commentary on weed control policies earned second in Editorial Opinion. Pam Caraway's insightful \"Lasso the Love\" was recognized with a third-place award in Economics and Management. Mindy Ward's humorous \"‘Skunkapalooza’ comes to Missouri Farm\" placed second, and Holly Spangler secured third in the Issues category for her article on the Illinois Farm Bureau's potential expulsion. Gil Gullickson's informative \"Yes, you can grow wheat in Iowa\" claimed first in On-Farm Production, and Holly Spangler's reflective column, \"What you can learn from 700 people in a machine shed funeral,\" earned third place. The Emerging Writer category saw Ava Splear take first with \"Amy Hildebrandt: All-American dairy farmer,\" and Rachel Schutte secured second for \"Young farmers: It's hard to wait on a transition plan.\" Furthermore, Whitney Shannon Haigwood (Level 1), Elizabeth Hodges and Shelley E. Huguley (Level 2), Rachel Schutte (Level 3), and Josh Baethge, Allison Lynch, and Ava Splear (Level 4) were recognized in the Master Writer Program, alongside Master Writers Andy Castillo, Kevin Schulz, and Chris Torres.
Excellence in Agricultural Photography
The 2025 Photography Contest also celebrated Farm Progress's visual storytelling capabilities. Gil Gullickson's evocative \"soybean sunset\" earned second place in the Pictorial category. In the Emerging Photographer division, Andy Castillo received first place for his dynamic \"Husker Harvest Days 2025,\" while Ava Splear secured second for her portrait, \"Dirk Rice: Loyal to family and the land.\" The Master Photographer Program acknowledged Curt Arens (Level 1), Ava Splear (Level 2), and Andy Castillo (Level 3) for their exceptional photographic contributions.
Innovative Design and Digital Media Recognition
Farm Progress's commitment to visual excellence was further highlighted in the 2025 Design Contest. Lisa Lynd received first place for \"Is your farm safe?\" and second place for \"How to lasso love\" in the Cover Page Design – Commercial category, demonstrating her talent for creating impactful and engaging covers. In the 2025 Digital & Social Media Awards, Jennifer M. Latzke's engaging \"Cowtowns & Skyscrapers\" blog earned first place, and Mindy Ward's \"Show Me Life\" blog secured third place, showcasing the team's proficiency in digital content creation.
The Significance of the Ag Media Summit
The Ag Media Summit, a collaborative effort by the Livestock Publications Council (LPC), the Agricultural Communicators Network, and the SIIA AM&P Network Agri-Media Committee, stands as the largest annual gathering for agricultural media professionals in the U.S. It provides an essential forum for connecting writers, editors, photographers, publishers, and strategic communicators, fostering collaboration and recognizing the industry's highest standards of journalistic integrity and innovation.
