Features Writing Category Top Awards - 2021
Category description: Entries in this category take a broader or more human look at an important or interesting agricultural issue, event or experience. A feature story may be longer and more in-depth than a news story. One story or package of stories (sidebars or secondary stories) published together on a single day is a single entry in this category. Number of entries: 56
Judge Annemarie Pedersen is based in Canary, Alberta, and has worked in agriculture public relations and communications for almost 20 years including work with an ag marketing agency, Canada Beef, and is now in year six of running her own business, Annemarie Pedersen Communications. She works with a variety of organizations including not-for-profits, large crop protection companies, and various parts of the livestock sector. She is now also executive director of Alberta Farm Animal Care.
1st Place - Susan Ferriss & Joe Yerardi,
The Center for Public Integrity
Trump attacks them. COVID-19 threatens them. But immigrants keep the U.S. fed — 9/28/2020
Judge’s comments: This was an excellent article and combined the story of a worker who died and his family and then broadened the scope to see a larger pattern across the country and tied it to legislative decisions made by state and federal governments. Very well researched and written.
2nd Place —
Leah Douglas, The Food & Environment Reporting Network
At the nation’s largest student farm organization, a reckoning on race — 9/8/2020
Judge’s comments: Very interesting and timely topic, well-written with a lot of research and background information — but not dry, and kept my interest throughout
3rd Place -
Pamela Smith
DTN/Progressive Farmer
Time to Make Hay: This Kansas farmer bales up a niche of his own — July 2020
Judge’s comments: Well written, keeps the reader interested throughout. Enjoyed the story and the farmer profile really shone through. Interesting and informative.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
— Sierra Dawn McClain, Capital Press
Mint to be: Northwest mint farmers endure deadly fungi and foreign competition — 3/26/2020
Judge’s comment: very well done- mix of personal story and industry experts, market facts and global competition — also very well written.
— William DeKay, The Western Producer
Old grain elevator ready to rock: Sask. band turns prairie skyscraper into a rehearsal space and venue where local musicians can hold private concerts — 12/3/2020
Judge’s comments: Unique story, well-written and keeps the reader interested throughout.
— Allan Dawson, Manitoba Co-operator
Labelle looks back on pulse sector career — 7/30/2020
Judge’s comments: Interesting look back at a long, successful career with nice details and anecdotes — entertaining and kept me interested throughout.
— Helena Bottemiller Evich, Politico
USDA let millions of pounds of food rot while food-bank demand soared — 4/26/2020
Judge’s comment: A comprehensive look at the issues with the food chain, red tape, and food shortages for consumers- well done.
— Donnell Alexander, The Guardian US and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project
’We wanted to work the land with our kids’: The Black US farmers reclaiming the soil — 12/22/2020
Judge’s comments: This was a well-told story that covered a lot of ground but kept it engaging and relevant to food security today. Interesting topic and perspective. Well written.