photo credit: AFBF Photo, Philip Gerlach
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2024 Communications Award winners named at this year’s Communications Conference in Waco, Texas, include 16 standout states. The competition recognizes state Farm Bureau professionals from across the country for their exceptional work in communications.
Judged against states with similar membership sizes, Maryland, Montana, California and Illinois rose to the top, receiving the most awards overall. Participants could submit one entry per category, with 18 categories to choose from, in the areas of writing, print, media relations, social media, graphic design, video, audio and website. More than 200 entries for work produced in 2023 were submitted for the 2024 contest.
“Our state Farm Bureau communicators are dedicated to sharing the voices of farm and ranch families across the country,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The work of our communicators is second to none and I’m proud of them for continually evolving to keep pace with the rapidly changing communications field. Congratulations to the winning states and my thanks to all Farm Bureau communicators.”
Contest judges represent a cross section of communications professionals not affiliated with Farm Bureau. Awards were presented to Farm Bureau communicators in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virgina and Wisconsin.
Each award is divided into groups based on membership size with up to three winners possible per category. The number of winners per category is based on the number of submissions received for the division. A list of award winners follows.
Anne Marie Moss Team Effort Award –recognizes outstanding collaboration on an issue that is a priority for AFBF; the farm bill is the issue for this year’s contest.
Virginia, for “Farm Bill Affects Us All,” a campaign highlighting the role the farm bill plays in the lives of all Americans – Tenille Nuckols, Burke Moeller, Kathy Dixon, Nicole Zema, Christina Amano Dolan
Texas, for promoting the farm bill though numerous media forms in a powerful and memorable way – Gary Joiner, Julie Tomascik, Ed Wolff, Shelby Shank, Emmy Powell, Tom Nicolette
Best Agriculture Story
Montana – Rebecca Colnar
California – Caleb Hampton
Alabama – Marlee Jackson
Best Single Blog Item, Editorial or Column
California – Amrith Gunasekara
Illinois – Sierra Henry, Richard Guebert Jr.
Best Newspaper or E-Newsletter
Maryland – Jeb Burchick
California – Christine Souza, Ching Lee, Caleb Hampton, Peter Hecht
Illinois – Daniel Grant, Kay Shipman, Tammie Sloup, Timothy Eggert, Erin Henkel, Catrina Rawson, Nicole Dowling, Jenny Gentes, Deana Stroisch
Best Magazine
Montana – Rebecca Colnar, Bobbi Burow
California – Barbara Arciero, Linda DuBois, Paula Earth, Caleb Hampton, Ching Lee, Christine Souza
Tennessee – Lee Maddox, Amy Beckham, Stacey Warner, Jessy Yancey, Thomas Capps, Misty McNeese
Best Member/Leader Newsletter
Kansas – Sheridan Wimmer
Alabama – Maggie Edwards
Best Graphic Design
Montana – Sue Ann Streufert, Nicole Rolf, Rachel Cone
Missouri – Rebecca Hoelscher
Illinois – Melissa Rhode, Donny Skelton, Ryan Ford, Dan Schlipmann, Donna Gallivan, Stephanie Knittel
Best Audio News Story, Feature Story or Commentary/Editorial
New York – Steve Ammerman, Seth Moser-Katz
Arkansas – Chad Hooten
Best Video News Story
New York – Seth Moser-Katz
California – Aubrey Aquino
Alabama – Mary Wilson, Matt Wilson, Kevin Worthington
Best Video Feature Story
California – Aubrey Aquino, Hadrian Santos, Evan Christensen
Kentucky – Matthew Hilton, Austin Anderson, Michael Corrigan
Best Promotional or Education Video or Ad
Wisconsin – Amy Eckelberg, Cassie Sonnentag
Illinois – Seth Leverenz, Scott Anderson, Mack Klingbeil, Mark Pressburger
Best Website
Wisconsin – Cassie Sonnentag, Rachel LaCount, Amy Eckelberg, Lynn Siekmann
Illinois – Gracie Pierson
Best Social Media Video
Maryland – Jeb Burchick, Parker Welch
Oklahoma – Dustin Mielke
Texas – Shelby Shank, Pedro Rosas
Best Social Media Campaign
Colorado – Luke Munchrath, Melissa Weaver
Wisconsin – Cassie Sonnentag, Rachel LaCount
Texas – Julie Tomascik, Angela Lujan, Emmy Powell, Shelby Shank, Ed Wolff, Pedro Rosas, Penny Cox
Best Social Media Presence
Maryland – Jeb Burchick
California – Christina Apkarian, Connor Duncan, Alex Eickmann, Darren Lee
Illinois – Gracie Pierson
Best Media Relations Event
Oklahoma – Dustin Mielke, Rachel Havens
Best Public Relations Campaign
Oklahoma – Dustin Mielke, Rachel Havens
Illinois – Gracie Pierson, Sierra Henry, DeAnne Bloomberg
Best Unique Tactic or Execution
Kansas – Meagan Cramer, Leigh Ann Maurath, Sheridan Wimmer
Alabama – Mary Wilson, Marlee Jackson, Laura Unger
