NAAJ Special Projects Winners - 2024
Unlike all other categories, entries in this category may include work from writers who are not NAAJ members. A special project entry takes reporting to a higher level. The overall entry shows careful planning and enterprise. The entry also shows that time, talent, and in some cases, monetary commitments were made to produce the project. May be a team effort.
Number of entries: 10
Judge’s comments about the competition: A number of entries were really stand-alone pieces, not designed as special projects. Other investigative entries were more intent on exposing issues, yet lacked balance and drew from old data or less reliable sources. Reminiscent of “yellow journalism” and “muck-raker” crusading.
Judge: John Vogel is a past NAAJ president and 48-year veteran Farm Progress editor. Past founding president of Pennsylvania’s Farm Link organization. As a Christian Farmers Outreach board member, he serves as publication editor, plus regularly creates thought-provoking Facebook posts with a light Christian spin.
FIRST PLACE — Jason Jenkins, Kurt Lawton, Pamela Smith, DTN/Progressive Farmer
Seed Deposits: Measures to safeguard future generic resources and crop diversity — 8/31/2023
The State of Seed: A Role for Public Plants
Tools of the Trait; New technologies speed delivery of crop improvement
Emergency Responders: How do seed companies react when crop threats loom?
Judge’s comments: Exceptional look into the decline of public seed research. Touches on emerging topics like machine learning and predictive technology.
SECOND PLACE — April Simpson, Joe Yerardi, Center for Public Integrity and Pushkin Industries
Land of Broken Promises — 10/3/23
‘Black farmers and ranches, it’s a dying deal’
Why is accurate data about Black farmers so hard to get?
In Oklahoma’s Black Belt, land ownership and power built Black wealth
Can USDA’s efforts on equity help Black farmers overcome ‘toxic debt’?
Judge’s comments: Thorough investigation into why black farmers and ranchers have had a tougher time succeeding in agriculture. Strong lead-in story of a cattleman plus an Oklahoma town's plight.
THIRD PLACE — Dan Miller, Des Keller, DTN/Progressive Farmer
2024 America’s Best Young Farmers & Ranchers — 12/1/23
Judge’s comments: Great series on successful young farmers and ranchers plus their struggles to continue. Well-written and guaranteed reading.