Pursuing Two Passions — USU’s Agricultural Communication Program (blog post)
Utah State University’s agricultural communication and journalism degree is a unique program in the state of Utah. It allows students to take classes in both agriculture and journalism and public relations. This means students don’t need to choose between their passions when choosing a major.
Graduates from the program learn to fill a niche for individuals well versed in agriculture and public relations and journalism.
“There’s a high demand for communication professionals that have specific knowledge and experience in the agricultural industry,” said Kelsey Hall, associate professor of agricultural communication and journalism at USU.
The role of agricultural communication professionals is to communicate to consumers, farmers, ranchers and others about agriculture and its different components, including farming, food, fiber, nutrition and policy, so audiences can make informed decisions, said Hall.
Hall grew up training standardbred horses for harness racing in Ohio. At the same time she was a photojournalist for her high school yearbook.
She discovered the field of agricultural communication at a high school leadership camp sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau where representatives from The Ohio State University came to discuss different programs available in agriculture from the school.
“It was at that time I realized I could mould my passion for photography and writing with my interest and experience in the agriculture industry,” she said.
Hall went on to attend Ohio State where she earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication and a master’s degree in agricultural and extension education. She also earned a doctorate in agricultural education and agricultural communication from Texas Tech University.
She worked professionally as a managing editor for BLF Management Ltd. where she managed publications for several associations. She also interned at the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association and OFA — an Association of Floriculture Professionals.
Now Hall is teaching the next generation of agricultural communicators. Like Hall, her students have found ways to combine their love of journalism and agriculture.
Aubree Thomas is a senior graduating in agricultural communication and journalism. She transferred to USU in 2015 from Casper College. She grew up on a cattle ranch in McKinnon, Wyoming. As a young person she showed cattle and was a member of 4-H and FFA.
She enjoyed writing in high school English class and public speaking and agricultural communication events in FFA, but she originally intended to major in animal science and become a veterinarian. Over time, she realized agricultural communication is what she really wanted to do.
However, Thomas didn’t have to give up her love for animal science. She got an associate degree in animal science at Casper College. She’s also minored in the subject at USU. Thomas has also served as president of the Animal Science Club at USU and as a Utah Beef Ambassador.
Thomas has enjoyed being able to combine her two passions at USU.
“One class period I’m learning how to write a press release or how to make a PR marketing plan, and then the next class I’m out on the farm working with the cows,” she said.
Another opportunity Thomas has had at USU is her job as public relations assistant for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences where she’s able to do many of the things she loves like writing and talking about agriculture, doing social media, photographing animals and being out on the farm. She also gets to cover the vet school, which relates to her original dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Working in the field of agricultural communication is a dream come through for Thomas.
“It’s here where I’ve actually been able to put everything I’ve learned in class into work,” she said. “Through this job I get to do everything I love.”