Catching up on summer

Well friends... it's been awhile. 

After the Missourian, I headed home for the week of Vacation Bible School and continued to work on American Ag Editors Association Award Program shows. A couple whirlwind weeks later, I hopped in the shotgun seat of Kathryn's car and we headed to see our friend Daysi in Louisville who interned with FCS Mid-America this summer. 

Daysi and I are kinda twinsies. She and I met through Kathryn. They are best friends from high school, and our three-muskateer-style friendship has blossomed over the past couple years. Daysi and I are somewhat similar in both personality and looks. Similar enough that we often get mixed up. And it's especially funny when we get mixed up by people who don't know we're friends.

During our visit, we went to see Mammoth Cave, the longest system of caves in the world, and...Daysi and I got our ears pierced! The trip was a great way to catch up, and I think we all had a lot of fun. Even if we got a few holes in our ears. 

Here's the gang at Mammoth Cave. See our pearls?
(From left to right: me, Daysi and Kathryn)

The next big adventure was Buffalo, New York! And boy was it an adventure. The shows went well, and we had great help from ACT members Megan and Kari. We also represent Mizzou at the conference quite well, I think. Kari received the prestigious Forrest Bassford Award from the Livestock Publications Council after an interview process and portfolio review. She and I also received AAEA Scholarships. One of our members won first place in the "breaking news" category of the National ACT Critique and Contest. We received second place in Yamaha's scholarship contest for our marketing materials for ATV safety. And, I personally have become very motivated to apply and do well in the Outstanding ACT Chapter process next year. First officer meeting was last night, and I'd say we're off to a good start!

Photoshoot with the Yamaha folks. This was the first year they awarded places beyond 1st place, and we were tickled pink to receive 2nd our first time entering.
(From left to right: me, National ACT Adviser Dr. Dwayne Cartmell, Megan LaManna,Yamaha Public Relations Manager Van Holmes, Kari Weis and Breanne Brammer)

It's been a very eventful and stressful (in a good way) summer, but now it's time for school. I'll try to get better with the posts since I won't be in any intense writing courses this semester. 

First Fourth in the City

I'm breaking my no-posting-on-the-personal-blog-while-reporting-for-the-Missourian rule because rules are meant to be broken, right? I think when the editors said that they meant the rules of writing, but... This is my first Fourth of July away from home, so I think it's ok. 

I was really sad not to be able to go home because The Fourth is a big deal at my house. My mom's side of the family comes up, and we always have a lot of fun. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sparklers (did you know they are actually the leading cause of fireworks injuries?) and bonding with my cousin Katie inside the house with our ears plugged while the big kids shot off fireworks. 

Thankfully I've grown out of the loud noise thing for the most part. 

Earlier today I was scrambling because I was trying to finish my final big story for the Missourian. It's on wheat, which, as my dad said, is kind of hard to glorify. Not that I was really glorifying it, just explaining it a bit. I met this really nice farmer named Ronnie Flatt, and wanted so badly to tell his story to his "neighbors" here in Columbia. Not sure the neighbors will find it interesting, but I hope so. After a long day of writing, rewriting and rewriting again, I think I'm finally ok with it. I'm sure my editors will make it even better tomorrow.

Until then, I'm just chilling on my back patio in Columbia. I never come out here at night, because to be quite honest I'm afraid of the city at night. Which is funny, because I know a lot of city kids who are afraid of the country at night. Normally, I'd say give me those looming dark trees and night critters. But tonight, I'm content with the few trees and clumped together houses. I'm seeing a lot of really nice (I'm sure they were expensive, too!) fireworks and I didn't have to pay for them. I'm not so much a fan of the booming music a couple houses down, but I'll deal. 

Seriously, it looks like individuals here spend more on fireworks than our city display does. I'm guessing they'll go way into the night. After all, I've been hearing them at night all week. 

Oh yeah, did I mention there's a fireworks ban in the city of Columbia? It took me a while to figure that out. I live just outside city limits. 

A Summer of Reporting

Tomorrow it will be a week since I started here at the Columbia Missourian. Six more weeks to go!

I feel like I am a total failure when it comes to this reporting stuff. This is disheartening because I do love to write and tell peoples' stories. However, I remind myself surely everyone feels like a failure when they just start out...

I can tell you this experience is going to add a whole new layer to my perspective. Already I feel a deep sense of compassion and sympathy for journalists. Before, I was always frustrated with those who write about agriculture not knowing what they talk about. Now I'm on the other side and realize it's tough! There's so many things to think about, so many aspects to include, so many people to talk to (if you can find them) and so many things can go wrong.

That to me doesn't excuse the problem, but it does make me realize it's incredibly important for farmers and people in ag to stand up and be willing to be sources.

Here at the Missourian we do accuracy checks with all our sources just to make sure everything we wrote down is accurate. I think it's incredibly smart, though at times I'll admit it's kind of a pain. For example, right now I'm entering my eleventh hour here in the newsroom because I'm waiting for a source to call me back. I hate bothering people, yet I also want to make sure it's right.

I now understand what my professors say about staying awake at night worrying over their stories.

To learn more about what I'm reporting on, you can visit the blog I'm writing for class. I'll probably keep it more updated on the day-to-day reporting than on here. It will also turn into my e-portfolio.

Some Pictures of Home

Schools Out...for a Little While

School is finally over for the semester! Last week, I turned in my final paper, took a couple tests, finished up some work stuff (so many AAEA award entries to organize!) and I was home free! 

Well, at least for a couple days. 

Tomorrow I have to go back, and Thursday I start reporting for the Missourian. Yes, I'm slightly terrified. Everyone I talk to, even professors, say it's going to be an intense, scary undertaking this summer. The Missourian is the university-run city newspaper. It's published 6 times a week, and journalism students are the reporters. This means I may be reporting on accidents, court cases, fires... I just don't know. 

There are a lot of unknowns, but I do know it's going to be an invaluable experience along my journey as an ag journalist. I expect it to be difficult, frustrating and stressful, but I know I have to do it and I know I'm going to get through it. 

From what experiences I have had as a "reporter," I know there's a lot of neat people out there who have stories to tell. I'm going to try to focus on the people, and pray (a lot) that everything falls into place. I have faith it will though. I ran across a quote the other day that said, "If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it." I know without a doubt I'm in this position for a reason, and something will come out of it. 

So far, I do have one story lead thanks to my advisor. That to me is proof it will be ok. 

I'm still at home for, oh, around 24 hours. So, I'm going to make the most of it and head out to take some pictures with the camera my dad gave me for my birthday. I'll try to post some of those soon!

Snow in the City: A Double Feature

The snow is finally starting to melting after our big wintry adventures the couple past weeks.

It all started two Thursdays ago. I knew it was supposed to snow, but I wasn't prepared for all the snow that came. A friend of Kathryn's was staying with us for an Angus event through the weekend. We decided to give her a taste of college life, and since our Ethics in Agriculture class was having a guest speaker, a professor of biochemistry, Kathryn asked permission for her to come along.

We woke up to snow and decided to carpool. Kathryn drove, of course. Now, normally, Kathryn and I walk from the parking lot up to Mumford to get our exercise in. With the snow, however, we decided the bus would be a nice change of scenery. So, we caught the bus which took us to the main campus, got off at the ag building and hiked our way through the snow to class. Snow was blowing everywhere, and this snow was "angry." It was thunder-snow so we heard loud claps of thunder and the snowflakes were the largest I'd ever seen them.

We got to class, learned about genetically modified organisms and the snow continued. Many of our classmates were absent, and the building felt empty. It was slightly eerie. After class, we bundled back up, snapped a photo and headed back into the wild. But, before exiting I decided to check my email for any cancelled classes. One by one, each of my classes' professors sent emails canceling class. And then the big one came--Mizzou is officially closing up shop! Shouts for glee, and then the realization-uh, we'd better get out of here! If Mizzou's closing, it must be serious.

We made it back to the car, pushed off the inches (yes, I mean inches) of snow that had accumulated within the two hours we were gone, and tried to find the local radio station. That was harder than I thought it'd be. Finally, we found some news and made the decision to travel through town rather than over the highway. Turned out to be a good decision, because I saw later reports showing the highway was a total mess.

It took us about an hour and a half to get across town at less than ten miles per hour. The wind was going crazy and we literally couldn't see ten feet in front of us. To make matters worse, the windshield wipers were freezing up and Kathryn basically had to drive from memory and nerve. We made it clear across town and turned onto our road, climbed the hill but suddenly we were stuck. In the middle of the road.

But, fortunately for us, I suppose, we weren't the only ones stuck so we weren't exactly in the way of anyone else. And we met a few neighbors who helped get the car out the road. And I made homemade chicken noodle soup and Kathryn's friend made cookies. It was a good day overall.

The next day we had a snow day from school and we dug Kathryn's car out, so it was all good. But I must say, I felt real old because scooping all that snow made me stiff. I guess using a plastic container instead of a shovel might not have helped that... I gained a much greater appreciation for my dad, the tractor and a blade.

While our snow traveling adventures were an adventure, I was glad Mizzou called off right away the following Tuesday when we got the same storm again. This time we got shovels too. Hey- we're college kids. We're learning!

Today in my science, technology and society class we talked about global warming. I personally thought the timing was spectacular.

The College Farmer

Well friends, it's been a while. I am finally getting settled back into college life. This semester is going to be another doozy, but in a different way than normal.

Normally, I feel like a chicken with my head cut off running around trying to get sources for stories. This semester, I get a break and become "normal" college student. But, that means I have to actually study...

Some great things have happened since I wrote last.

Back in, was it October?, I talked with my teaching assistant for a Fundamentals of Business Communication course. She mentioned she was writing the College Farmer column for the Missouri Ruralist but would be stepping down soon. She encouraged me to apply, and so when the application came open I decided to go for it.

I was doing laundry in between studying for my one final (the joys of being a journalism student) when an unknown number came across my cell phone. Turns out, it was the editor of the Missouri Ruralist saying I was the new College Farmer! I set out to write an introductory article, and not too long ago it came out.

It's a whole new experience for me to write a column. It'll be another great chapter in this great journey!

Another Christmas Break writing activity involved a really neat FFA member from Oklahoma, a ranch, a laboratory and some tomatoes. Taylor Runyan's story has been one of my most challenging and rewarding one to share, but more on that when it comes out in a few months.

For now, I'm back to the books. I've got to figure out how to compose an ethical argument by class in the morning.

New Year's Resolutions

Today was my first day back in the comfort of home in almost a week. I'm realizing I only have one week left of vacation. I'm not sure how I'm going to get all of my to-do list done!

I've been working on a presentation for tomorrow for the juniors and seniors of the Trenton Ag Department. 

Mrs. Kreatz has been kind enough to let me come back to share some of what I've learned (and practice my presentation skills) for the past couple years. It's a good excuse for me to be back in the ag room, my high school home-away-from-home, again. 

My little friends from high school aren't so little anymore. The first group I was able to take under my wing as an officer are seniors, and the final group of freshmen are juniors. A lot of has changed in two years!

Tomorrow I will encourage them to develop a few New Years' resolutions: Be Passionate, Be Informed, Be Prepared and Be Involved. 

What are your New Year's Resolutions this year?