“NAAJ has provided countless opportunities not only to develop my own leadership skills, but most importantly to make lifetime friendships and provide a place to grow as an agriculture journalist.”
— Todd Neeley, 2019-2021 president and reporter at DTN/Progressive Farmer
 

Des Keller, President

Freelancer Des Keller has worked for more than 30 years as an award-winning agricultural writer and photographer. An Iowa native, Des lives in Charlotte, N.C. and chronicles the journeys of farm families and the business of agriculture for several publications and online outlets. He also does work with his wife, Susan Dosier, a freelance PR and social media consultant in the travel and hospitality industry. They have two adult daughters. 

 

Joel Reichenberger, Vice President

Joel Reichenberger, senior editor at DTN/Progressive Farmer, grew up on a wheat farm in south central Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University, majoring in print journalism, electronic journalism and history. Joel has reported on agriculture from around the world working as a freelancer, and for the last 15 years has been a full-time sportswriter and photographer for several newspapers. He lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Jacki, and daughter, Lydia.

Jacqui Fatka,

Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Jacqui Fatka currently serves as the executive-secretary treasurer to guide and direct NAAJ member activities. Full-time she covers policy for Agri-Pulse Communications. She first started in the industry at Farm Progress Companies who first hired her in 2003 after graduating from Iowa State University. She grew up on a diversified livestock and grain farm in southwest Iowa.

 

Regional Vice Presidents

Midwest - Michael Hirtzer, Bloomberg
Northeast - Helena Bottemiller Evich, Food Fix
Southeast - Philip Brasher, Agri-Pulse
Canada - Ron Lyseng
West - Tim Hearden, Farm Progress

PAST PRESIDENTS: Attending the annual meeting in 2022 were several of the past presidents for the North American Agricultural Journalists. Pictured from left to right is Jerry Hagstrom, Gil Gullickson, Gene Lucht, current president Allan Dawson, Todd Neeley and Mikkel Pates.