NAAJ Profile Winners - 2024
Category description: Entries in this category profile a family, person or animal in agriculture relevant to the target audience. The profile can convey the individual’s contributions on a local, regional or national level. Entries must include the use of more than one source. 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: 19
Judge: Ron DeChristopher, now retired, has been a reporter for daily newspapers in Illinois, Mississippi and Iowa (1974-1988), and then became a field editor, copy editor/wire editor and page designer for Iowa Farmer Today (1988-2014). He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism (1970). He was earned awards from the National Association of Agricultural Journalists, Associated Press, Sierra Club, Iowa Newspaper Association, and Women in Communications
FIRST PLACE — Noah Wicks, Agri-Pulse
The farmer who could shape control of the Senate — 12/13/2023
Judge’s comments: Two things jumped off the page with this profile: skillful, to-the-point writing and insights into the subject’s colorful personality and style as a U.S. senator/farmer. From Jon Tester’s trademark crewcut to his stature, he vividly comes across in the profile as a tough, no-nonsense, larger-than-life character. The anecdote about his relationship with fellow Sen. Cory Booker made for an amusing perspective on Tester’s approach to his job as a lawmaker. The profile offers a good glimpse into what’s at stake regarding control of the Senate as a result of the upcoming 2024 election. Good use of multiple sources to flesh out the piece.
SECOND PLACE — Des Keller, DTN/Progressive Farmer
The Godfather of Regenerative Ag — 6/1/2023
Judge’s comments: The message emerging loud and clear in this well-written, colorful profile is one farmer/consultant’s passion for promoting healthy soils and his mission to help farmers not rely on tillage and chemicals in their operations. The piece is nicely crafted and balanced with observations from one of Gabe Brown’s biggest critics. Although the critic, an agronomist, declined to be interviewed for the profile of Brown, the writer was resourceful in using the skeptic’s previous comments from the agronomist’s website. A nice element to the profile is the experience of a North Dakota farmer who relied on Brown’s advice in transitioning to no-till. Good sidebar on the Haney Test, which helped the North Dakota farmer achieve his goals.
THIRD PLACE — Pamela Smith, DTN/Progressive Farmer
Resolve to Get Farm Fit — 2/1/2023
Judge’s comments: This profile paints a very vivid picture of a woman who is passionate about what she preaches: the importance of farmers staying mentally and physically healthy for peak performance. It illustrates a sometimes overlooked but key component of production agriculture, a hard-on-the body profession. From healthy snacks to simple stretches, to extensive training and nutritional coaching, South Dakota farmer Amanda Nigg has a lot to offer in her Farm Fit Training program. Her first foray into helping farmers stay fit, an online challenge in 2020 featuring a simple exercise, surprisingly prompted 800 farmers to sign up. From there, Nigg got certified in training and nutrition in 2021 and her vision took off. Iowa farmer Brandon Freel is featured in the profile as a good example of Nigg’s influence. He’s enthusiastic about the physical and mental benefits of Nigg’s program.
HONORABLE MENTION
—Lisa Foust Prater, Successful Farming
Be Prepared: When it comes to farm continuation and estate planning, it’s never too early to start — 10/1/2023
Judge’s comments: This profile illustrates a poignant example of the importance of establishing a continuation plan — to be prepared if the unexpected happens within a farm family. Although Iowa farmer Kevin Peterson was relatively young, in his early 60s, he was laser focused on protecting his family’s future. After setting up the plan, he died a few years later in a motorcycle accident. All of Peterson’s research and seeking professional advice paid off. The profile describes in detail all the challenges entailed in crafting a continuation plan, plus the cooperation and caring needed within a family to make it work. Good job of clearly explaining the planning process.