Farm Progress staff came home with over 25 awards at the recent Ag Media Summit, held July 30-Aug. 2 at Palm Springs, Calif. The winning entries were part of the annual Agricultural Communications Network Communication Awards program, where communicators nationwide showcase their best work in design, photography, writing, marketing & communications, as well as digital & social media.

Betty Haynes, Prairie Farmer Associate Editor, was named recipient of the 2023 Andy Markwart Horizon Award for her passionate, creative work which embodies the dedication of the late Andy Markwart.

"It's an incredible honor to be the 2023 Andy Markwart Horizon Award winner," says Haynes. "It’s remarkable to get to write for the publication Andy once worked for, and to continue in his footsteps of communicating the highest quality ag news to rural Illinois."

In addition, Haynes received the Master Writer recognition, along with several awards for her writing and photography, listed below.

Also recognized at the event was Holly Spangler, Prairie Farmer Editor. Spangler won Writer of the Year Honorable Mention for her portfolio submission of three stories judged for their quality, depth and breadth.

“The incredible thing about an award like this is that you get to stand among giants – agricultural journalists I’ve looked up to for years,” says Spangler. “I’ll never get over seeing my name in the same vicinity as theirs. And I’ll never get over the privilege farmers extend to us when they let us tell their stories.”

The full list of award recipients from Farm Progress is below. To see all the winners from the event, visit this link.

2023 Writing Contest Winners:

2023 Photography Contest Winners:

2023 Design Contest Winners:

2023 Digital & Social Media Award Winners:

Publishing:

2023 Marketing Communications:

The Ag Media Summit is the largest annual gathering of the agriculture industry’s top writers, editors, photographers, publishers and strategic communicators in the U.S. It is organized by the Livestock Publications Council (LPC), the Agricultural Communicators Network, and the SIIA AM&P Network Agri-Media Committee.