During the 2025 Ag Media Summit (AMS), which was held on July 27–29 in Rogers, Arkansas, four students currently studying agricultural communications were honored for their excellence, professionalism and leadership. These awards are made possible by the Livestock Publications Council (LPC) Student Award Program, sponsored by Alltech, which provides travel scholarships for four students to attend AMS.
“Alltech is proud to support the next generation of agricultural communicators as the ambassadors and voice of our industry,” said Jenn Norrie, Alltech’s communications manager for North America and Europe. “These young leaders are playing an instrumental role in sharing stories of farmers and ranchers and are helping to educate the urban population on where and by whom their food is produced.”
The finalists for this year’s Forrest Bassford Student Award, presented by the LPC, included:
- Rianna Chaney, Oklahoma State University
- Jenna Fiscus, Kansas State University
- Kyra Holt, Texas Tech University
- Jenna Whitaker, University of Idaho
Following a competitive application and interview process, the award was presented to Jenna Whitaker, a junior studying agricultural science, communication and leadership at the University of Idaho. Her dedication to the livestock industry, exemplary academic performance and outstanding communication skills set her apart among the candidates.
“I am grateful to the LPC for honoring me with this award and helping fund my education,” said Whitaker. “The agricultural industry is responsible for providing safe, high-quality food to the world. Through my career, I hope to tell the stories of those making that happen.”
Along with her many other accomplishments, Whitaker interned this summer with Angus Media. As a member of its publications team, she shared the stories of agriculturalists who work every day to ensure that American food sources are safe and sustainable — and she intends to continue telling those stories into the future.
“Words are not small things; quite the opposite, actually,” Whitaker wrote in her application essay. “Words have the incredible ability to change lives in an instant. As an avid communicator, reader and storyteller, I recognize the value of the words I choose. As an agriculturalist, I find it disheartening how often the agricultural industry has their words chosen for them. The agricultural industry suffers from a misinformation crisis. Inaccurate information from loud voices leads to false narratives and consumer distrust. I want to use my voice to change that perspective.”
The Forrest Bassford Student Award was established in 1992 to honor Bassford’s contributions to the Livestock Publications Council and his passion for supporting young people in the field of agricultural communications.
