Nits and News: Ag Communications Newsletter

A message from our chairman

Ron Scherer, '68, '72

Thanks for jobs well done

Dozens of dedicated Ag Comm alums have worked hard to bring about the resurrection of the agricultural communications program, which hinges on the program's merger with the College of Media and the prospect of perpetuating a strengthened program through the James F. Evans Endowed Chair.

But the two men most responsible for the memorandum of understanding that allows for the merger will be leaving their posts at the University of Illinois. Robert Easter, dean of the College of ACES for the past eight years, and Ron Yates, dean of the College of Media, have led their respective colleagues in the discussions that have brought about the agreement between the two communications programs.

Dean Easter has accepted the chancellor's invitation to serve as interim provost of the University, and Dean Yates has announced he is stepping down as dean of the College of Media. Both Dean Easter and Dean Yates have provided the commitment and spirit of cooperation between the two programs that has brought us to where we are today. We are confident their successors will have that same commitment.

We wish Dean Yates happiness in his new role and Dean Easter much success in his new role. All past, current and future students of agricultural communications at Illinois owe a big debt of gratitude to both of these gentlemen for their forward thinking attitude and "make-it-happen" actions.

A New Name Coming Soon...

Ag Com Nits and News will soon have a new name. With the program transitioning to a new home in the College of Media, and since many of us couldn't define nits and news, we decided to change the name. We hope you continue to enjoy regular updates about the program..

Visiting assistant professor sought for program

Council receives update during June 22 meeting

The Agricultural Communications Alumni Leadership Council met via conference call on June 22. During the meeting College of ACES Associate Dean Laurie Kramer and College of Media Advertising Department Head Jan Slater talked about the transition as both ACES Dean Robert Easter and Media Dean Ron Yates transition to new roles.

They also talked about hiring a visiting faculty member to maintain the level of classes for the Ag Comm Program during a two-year transition period while waiting for the James F. Evans Endowed Chair. The provost approved a request for the Agricultural Communications Visiting Assistant Professor and applicants are currently being sought for the position.

The position description says:

Applications are invited for a two-year visiting, non-tenure track appointment to teach Agricultural Communications in the College of Media. The College of Media and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences jointly sponsor the AgCom major. The visiting assistant professor appointment will be based in the Department of Advertising within the College of Media. Duties will include teaching three public relations/AgCom courses per semester and providing service to the major. Start date: January 1, 2010.

M.S. or Ph.D., experience in agricultural communications required. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Please create your candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu and upload your cover letter, curriculum vita/resume, and the names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of three professional references. Also submit teaching and/or professional work samples. All requested information must be submitted for your application to be considered.

To receive full consideration, applications must be received by July 31, 2009.

Send supplemental application materials to Dr. Jan Slater, Search Committee Chair, University of Illinois, Department of Advertising, 810 S. Wright Street, 103 Gregory Hall, Urbana, IL 61801. For further information regarding application materials, you may contact Janette Bradley Wright via email at wjbradle@illinois.edu.

Also during the meeting, Slater talked about her efforts to include Ag Comm students in the College of Media. She plans to invite Ag Comm students to the new student welcome and other advertising events and allow them to take the Introduction to Advertising class that is just for College of Media majors compared with the one open to all students.

Jim Evans, Karlie Elliot, Louise Rogers and Kim Meenen updated the council on their trip to Des Moines, Iowa for the Association of Communication Excellence (ACE)/ National Extension Technology Committee (NETC) meeting. During the meeting, Evans and Elliot participated in the sessions and met graduate students, faculty members and researchers. ACES Advancement staff worked with John Wood and Bob Kern to host a reception honoring Dr. Evans. All four commented on how much they learned about other people's appreciation for the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center.

2009 Ag Comm graduate starts new assistantship

Recent graduate Karlie Elliott is taking on a new challenge. This summer and upcoming school year she will assist with the transition of the agricultural communications program. Elliott has been granted an opportunity to work as a graduate assistant with Associate Dean Laurie Kramer in the College of ACES Academic Programs. Elliott will work with the Ag Comm program and assist with the development of College of ACES communications. She will pursue her master's degree in advertising with the College of Media.

As the Ag Comm program within the College of ACES undergoes a major transition and work is being done to establish the James F. Evans Endowed Chair, there is a great need for Elliott to serve in this role. Her goal is to set the stage for restoring the program to the levels of excellence it is capable of achieving. She recognizes the many elements that are necessary to fully restore this program and believes that with support from alumni and friends, the new program has amazing opportunities for growth.

The Academic Programs Assistantship will provide the elements of leadership, brand management, project coordination and implementation, and both internal and external communications necessary to facilitate the efficient and effective realization of the goals for the joint program in agricultural communications.

Specific goals and duties for Elliott's position include coordinating the mission, vision, goals and communication plan for the Ag Comm program, communication and collaboration among the College of ACES and the College of Media, serving as a liaison for the Ag Comm Programming Committee, Endowment Committee, Leadership Committee, Career Information Committee and additional existing committees. Another goal is to create and disseminate informational materials specific to the Ag Comm program and the College of ACES.

Elliott looks forward to providing support and resources to prospective and current students regarding academic advising, internship information, leadership opportunities, employment, awards, scholarships, professional networks, communicator activities and any additional value-added resources. Further, she hopes to organize an Ag Comm Professor for a Day Program, which will allow current industry leaders to return to campus to engage with students, tour the campus, teach an Ag Comm course and tour campus.

Elliott is a May 2009 graduate of the Ag Comm program and a native of Rankin, Ill.

Ag Comm Endowment Campaign reaches half-million dollar mark

The need for experts in the field of agricultural communications has never been greater. Our global agricultural economy presents communications challenges never before imagined. That—combined with ever-expanding media channels and the need to know more, faster than ever before—adds emphasis to the challenge.

The $2 million effort to create the Dr. James F. Evans Endowed Chair in Agricultural Communications is off to a good start with just under $525,000 raised. Since we began the drive to raise funds, 98 alumni and friends of the program have made contributions toward the goal. With more than 926 alumni and friends of ag communications, we need support from every stakeholder.

If Dr. Evans or the University of Illinois Agricultural Communications Program played a role in your personal or business success, then before the end of 2009, please consider giving to the institution that is committed to his heritage and the profession of agricultural communications. To achieve the goal all of us who have a commitment to professional agricultural communications need to make a significant financial commitment. Your donation of $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, or more is critical to the success of the endowed chair and the success of the Agricultural Communications Program at the University of Illinois. You may even consider making a long-term donation through your estate planning.

Please contact Louise Rogers at elrogers@illinois.edu or by phone at (217) 333-9355 for more information

Student reports on her Midwest Dairy Association internship

Carly Rakes and Dr. Evans visiting at the Illinois Dairy Association. Carly is an intern with the Illinois Dairy Association this summer for Marla Behrends.

"It seems like this month of June has FLOWN by," reports senior Carly Rakes about her summer internship with the Midwest Dairy Association. While helping promote dairy products in Illinois, she has been busy writing news releases, promoting June is Dairy Month activities, helping with dairy farm tours and taking part in dairy breakfasts across the state. Rakes has been a speaker at one dairy banquet. Of course, dairy promotion activities at the approaching Illinois State Fair will offer added communications experience for this young agricultural communicator from Auburn, Ill.

"I enjoy talking to dairy producers and learning more about the dairy industry for sure," Rakes says. Based at the fairgrounds in Springfield, she works closely with Marla Behrends, industry relations manager for Midwest Dairy Association and UI agricultural communications alum.

Rakes is in the news-editorial option of the agricultural communications curriculum. In addition, she is using internships and part-time work on campus to help prepare for her career. During the school year, she is an external relations intern with the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. She also gained experience as a press room intern at the 2007 and 2008 North American International Livestock Expositions in Louisville, Kentucky.

Her extracurricular activities include serving on the 2009 ExplorACES steering committee as publicity/web site chair, taking part in the College of ACES Student Advancement Committee and being a member of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT). She also is active in the 4-H House cooperative sorority.

Volunteers needed to help with FFA Workshops

This fall, Illinois Ag Comm alumni will assist Illinois FFA State Reporter Ellen Reeder as she hosts seven FFA Reporter Workshops across the state. We will help Ellen by sharing our communication experiences, talking to students about careers in agricultural communications and serving as a resource person for her and the FFA members. The workshops last about two hours with 30-60 members typically attending. We need one or two volunteers to help at each of the following dates and locations:

• Red Lake Community College, Ina, Sept. 9, 6 p.m.
• Lakeland Community College, Mattoon, Sept. 10, 6 p.m.
• Blackhawk East Community College, Galva, Sept. 14, 6 p.m.
• Macomb High School, Macomb, Sept. 15, 5:30 p.m.
• Kishwaukee Community College, Malta, Sept. 16, 6 p.m.
• Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Sept. 17, 5:30 p.m.
• Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, Sept. 21, 6 p.m.

If you are interested in helping at one of these workshops, please contact council members Ron Scherer at rscherer@htc.net or Amy Roady at amyroady@gmail.com.

Ag Com in Places

Next Alumni Council Meeting set for Aug. 14

The Agricultural Communications Alumni Leadership Council will hold its next meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. If you have any comments about the Ag Comm program or can think of things we should discuss, just let us know before the meeting. Feel free to contact any of the council members. They include:

• Ron Scherer, '68, '72- Council Chairman
• Amy Roady, '01- Council Secretary
• Karlie Elliot '09- Student Representative
• Annette Duitsman, '85
• Kristi Kenney, '04
• Heather Miller, '97, '04
• Lyle Orwig, '74
• Wendy Pinkerton, '82
• Ken Rickenberger, '74