Editors' Notebook

OMAHA (DTN) -- This summer I had the opportunity to be an editorial intern with DTN/Progressive Farmer. I wrote a number of pieces for the website and magazine, and learned about writing, photography, videography, graphic design and layout.

As an agricultural communication major at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, I was so excited for an internship that would allow me to learn more about the industry. With the industry continuously evolving, it was a very rewarding experience to learn more about the industry that feeds and fuels the world.

I've always wanted to work in the ag industry, but I have never been set on what I want to do with my career, which is why internships are so vital for college students. Working here has taught me so many things, and each day brought something new. A typical day consisted of working in the office, interviewing interesting people, writing a story, or sometimes doing research for Crop Tech Corner columns.

Some days were spent out of the office -- which ended up being my favorite days. On a particular day, I was able to attend a media day with CLAAS for an equipment unveiling. While there, they let some of us drive the new equipment, so I took a spin on the combine. This was my first time driving a combine, and I have to say, I did a pretty good job.

Being from South Carolina, I was very excited to be able to head back down south for a week with Progressive Farmer. Their headquarters are in Birmingham, Alabama, and I was eager to spend a week with their team. The magazine has been around since 1886, so they had quite a lot to show me, including the behind-the-scenes work that went into their recent rebranding.

Y'all would think that after more than 130 years, they would run out of things to write about, but that is definitely not the case. With an ever-changing industry, they are spitting out land, farm and lifestyle stories like there is no tomorrow. My family has received the magazine in the mail for as long as I can remember, but never in a million years did I think that I would get to work with them. After spending time with their team, I was able to see all of the hard work that goes into distributing a magazine to 450,000 readers.

While I was at Progressive Farmer, I got a taste of graphic design, photography, layout and design. I was raised on a cow-calf operation, so when I learned that I would be going to a cattle operation for a photography session that week, I was over the moon. I took the camera out to the pasture full of Beefmasters, and though my family raises Black Angus cattle, I felt right at home. I had not had much experience with photography, but when I returned to the office, I was surprised to see that some of my pictures were not as bad as I thought they would be.

This was my last summer of my college career, and I am so blessed to say that I was able to spend it learning from DTN/Progressive Farmer. As I get ready to graduate in December, I know that I am ready to enter the industry with the skills that an agricultural communication major should possess.

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Editor's Note:

DTN/Progressive Farmer was selected to host the 2019 editorial intern through the American Agricultural Editors' Association Internship Program, sponsored by a grant from the AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation.

(ES/AG)

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