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Students revive ag-based communication org

The COVID-19 pandemic had caused the group to languish.

Steve Miller, Senior Editor

October 25, 2021

2 Min Read
WFP-ARS-wyo-grass-study.jpg
A Wyoming grass study.USDA ARS

An agriculture-based organization at the University of Wyoming aims to effectively communicate the importance of the field to its members and public, according to the group.

Sophia Fahleson, an agricultural communications major, said her passion for agriculture led her to take over leadership of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. The COVID-19 pandemic had caused the group to languish.

“Agriculture affects everything, whether people realize it or not. The clothes you are wearing right now came from a factory that used materials delivered from farms,” said Fahleson of Lincoln, Neb. “Agriculture is the base of everything, which is why I joined this organization. I want people to know how important it really is.”

Fahleson said there has been negativity surrounding agriculture over the past several years, mostly derived from misinformation or lack of information. The group wants to raise awareness, so people become more knowledgeable about agriculture and its benefits.

The group encourages anyone to join, regardless of their background, she said.

“Our biggest value is inclusivity,” Fahleson said. “I was not raised with an agricultural background and that is not what we are looking for. Many groups require you to have prior knowledge or experience, but anyone who wants to join our group is welcome.”

Organization officers are Allison Coghan, an agricultural business major from Apex, N.C., vice president; Jaylyn Westenbroek, an agricultural business major from Fredrick, Colo., secretary; Walker Billings, a rangeland ecology and watershed management major from Sheridan, treasurer; and Braidyn Bristow, an agricultural business major from Erie, Colo., social media chair.

Contact Fahleson at [email protected] for more information about the group and future meetings.

Source: University of Wyoming, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

About the Author(s)

Steve Miller

Senior Editor, University of Wyoming

I was raised on a crop/livestock farm in the Brady/Gothenburg, Nebraska area, and, at the time, resented all the time spent grinding corn, haying in 100-degree weather, castrating pigs and calves, and moving irrigated pipe. I always tried to make myself scarce when time came to butcher chickens. As I grew up, so did the appreciation of my childhood. Now I look back at that time with fondness, although I'm sure my two brothers might disagree with my reflections. My first job in journalism was at my hometown weekly newspaper, learning more about reporting the first three months than the previous four years of college. Mistakenly believing the grass is always greener, or perhaps it was just plain itchy feet, I launched a career of reporting and editing jobs in several states covering city councils, county commissions, county and district courts, education, law enforcement, high school and college sports, and agriculture. I worked at newspapers in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, and was managing editor at the last two newspapers. I returned to college at the age of 47 and received a 7-12 social sciences teaching certificate. I never put the certificate to use outside of college but have never regretted returning to school because of the life-altering qualities. I better add I have a very patient and supportive wife. I joined the University of Wyoming Extension in 2005 two days after completing my student teaching assignment. I might be the oldest graduate student in the University of Wyoming Department of Communication and Journalism so far halfway toward a master's degree.

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