NAFB

Aug 20, 2024 | nafb.com | Micheal Clements

John Herath was promoted to assistant vice president of communications for the U.S. Meat Export Federation on April 1. He graduated from MacMurray College with his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1992, and he started an impressive career in agricultural communications during his college years. From 1990 to 1992, he was a WLDS/WEAI Radio reporter in Jacksonville, Illinois. After graduation, he spent a year as the news director for WIHN Radio in Bloomington, Illinois.

Aug 20, 2024 | nafb.com | Micheal Clements

Owen Roberts, director of agricultural communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is working with a team to establish the James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The university requires $5 million to create a center, and an anonymous donor has already made a sizeable donation to kickstart the fundraising process. The Evans Center will focus on closing communication gaps in food and agriculture.

Aug 20, 2024 | nafb.com | Micheal Clements

Melissa Hammer started as a farm broadcaster at Red River Farm Network on May 6. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston with a bachelor's degree in animal science. Hammer grew up on a farm in central Minnesota and was involved in 4-H and FFA. Her background in agriculture influenced her to pursue higher education. “I started as an agricultural education major, but as I continued through college, I realized that wasn’t the career path I had seen for myself in the end,” Hammer said.

Aug 20, 2024 | nafb.com | Micheal Clements

Mark Upton is the senior director of agricultural products for Central Life Sciences, and he trains horses in his spare time. Upton has profit and loss responsibilities for two businesses in his full-time position. “The first business sells feed additive products that you would give to livestock to prevent flies,” Upton said.

Aug 20, 2024 | nafb.com | Micheal Clements

Lydia Johnson started working for Agri-Pulse as a broadcaster on June 1. Johnson grew up on her family farm in central Iowa before attending Iowa State University. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in agricultural communications in May. “I grew up in agriculture, and I was active in FFA through high school,” Johnson said. “My FFA chapter facilitated the Animal Learning Center at the state fair, which was an impactful experience.