In some ways, taking over the reins of an ag magazine can be like taking over the reins of a farm. That's not to say that ag editors bear the burden of overhead costs like farmers and ranchers must to get their feet off the ground. But when an ag editor retires, it still involves the passing on of a legacy.
As many readers know, that's what's happening here at Wallaces Farmer with the retirement of longtime editor Rod Swoboda. Rod was one of the editors, along with Frank Holdmeyer, who hired me as an intern back in 2012 — when I was just a green, young journalist fresh out of college.
I couldn't have asked for better mentors as a beginning ag journalist, and I'm incredibly grateful to both Rod and Frank for helping me launch my career. And I considered it a great honor when I was asked to fill Rod's rather large shoes as the next editor of Wallaces Farmer.
After my internship, my career took me to Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, but the lessons I learned during that period stayed with me. I think one of the most important lessons I learned from Rod came from the long-lasting relationships he formed during his time at Wallaces Farmer. I was always amazed at the familiar names Rod knew from the small farming community where I grew up in southwest Iowa, and the stories he told about farm visits more than 20 years ago.
It’s the kind of experience you have when you write for an ag publication — the interviews become much more personal, and the number of neighbors you have increases a hundredfold. I think it’s the best measure of a great ag editor. Someday, when I retire, I hope I can look back on my career, reflect on my experience and be remembered in the same way.
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With that said, I realize I've got some big shoes to fill. As I mentioned earlier, when an ag editor retires and a new one steps in to take his or her place, a legacy is passed on. So, with this role comes not only high expectations, but also an opportunity for the new editor to leave a mark on the publication and on agriculture.
After spending the last five years in Nebraska, I have a lot of great memories visiting farms and ranches in the Cornhusker State. But as I begin this next chapter, I'm excited to cover my home state once again and re-familiarize myself with Iowa
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