"Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bands."

- Thomas Jefferson

Thursday, September 15, 2011

CAFNR Corner Post Debut

One of the coolest things about Mizzou's Science and Agricultural Journalism program is that the first thing we start doing in the Intro to Ag J class is writing for the CAFNR Corner Post, an online publication by the students and for the students of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. 

For some, including myself at times, it's intimidating to know that we just got here and we're automatically expected to produce something worthy of publication. There are rules and guidelines to follow as a professional journalist that make writing a new experience. I'm finding that I am terribly wordy, and for that I apologize to anyone it has affected. I am learning though, and that's why I'm here. 

While interviewing random people may be intimidating, I appreciate the program's realization that the best way to learn is by doing. I'm a practical person and learn best hands-on so I appreciate this trial-and-error method. I feel like I can read books about journalism and talk about how to write, but until I actually start writing I won't really learn anything about this path I've chosen to follow.

My first story was about the economic effects of Hurricane Irene on farmers. I blogged a little about it just after the hurricane, but the event kept weighing on my mind. Something that is usually in the forefront of my mind is that we're all connected, and I wanted to see how Hurricane Irene might affect different people, those on the East Coast as well as those here in the Midwest. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to talk to a couple gentlemen actually from North Carolina, one of which actually had a family farm on the coast which was damaged. I had a great experience learning about the hurricane, and then writing the story

Everything is beginning to feel a lot more real, and feasible as a future. I have a long way to go, but I'm learning and I'm excited. 

I'd encourage you to check the CAFNR Corner Post and see what everyone is writing!

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