Awards- That's a Job!

I can't believe it's already mid-June! Where has time gone?

The funny thing is (or sad- however you want to look at it, I prefer to think of things as funny) I thought I would have MUCH more time to write when I didn't have to think about school work. Just goes to show you the grass is always greener on the other side!

So what have I been up to? LOTS.

It seems like I've been making the drive back to Columbia a lot this summer. I'm working with Marilyn Cummins of Cummins Consulting to get the American Ag Editors Association Awards Program together. It's my first "real job" (though I get to work from home most of the time, so maybe I can't consider it "real"), and I have been enjoying the experience!

It's so interesting looking at what professional agricultural journalists are writing. I am constantly amazed at what's going on in agriculture- new technologies, techniques, and implements; awesome agriculturalists who are doing what they love; and the people who are standing up for their passions and livelihoods. Seeing it in action, and realizing I could potentially be doing something similar in a few years, is really encouraging and exciting for me.

There is a lot more involved in putting an awards program together than I had ever realized! And I have just worked on pieces on the AAEA Awards Program. It's a huge program, so I'm a little nervous about what it's going to be like when we get to Albuquerque to present it. Fortunately, I got a little practice this past week.

Marilyn was also in charge of the Missouri Association of Publications Conference, and towards the end I got the opportunity to help her out with it. Bonus experience! Plus, it's kind of fun to have an excuse to get all spiffied up and look professional. I got some valuable practice experience in setting up an awards powerpoint, organizing plaques and certificates, plus I got to meet some very interesting people!

Oh, and I got my first experience driving on Highway 63 in morning rush hour traffic. I SURVIVED! :) (I'm not exaggerating my excitement about this...)

I'm looking forward to doing it all over (only on a much larger scale) in Albuquerque a few months from now!