October 20, 2015

Alltech sponsors boot camp for promising young journalists

Press release

Ten young leaders in agricultural journalism joined together to discuss agribusiness issues from around the world and further develop their skills in leadership and agricultural journalism at this year's International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) boot camp, sponsored by Alltech.

Representing 10 countries and three continents, recipients of the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award further developed their skills through presentations from agribusiness and academia speakers, interactive group sessions and visits to local dairy farms.

Matthew Smith, Alltech vice president of Asia-Pacific, presented "Agribusiness leadership today and tomorrow," encouraging the delegates to be different and break the mould. "Leaders should not think outside the box; they should get rid of the box altogether," said Smith.

Smith also stressed that agricultural journalists must travel for a truly international perspective that they can then share with their readers, listeners and viewers, whose livelihood is highly influenced by global activities. "Our industry is global-there are no borders," he advised, challenging the journalists to think outside of their individual countries and look for the bigger stories.

The young leaders also visited a 350-cow dairy operation in Morrinsville, where owners David and Marlene Harris shared their enthusiasm for dairy farming and discussed their experience growing production on their farm. Ale Vergara, Alltech technical manager in Waikato, highlighted the importance of hoof health for cow comfort and well-being and gave a demonstration on hoof trimming. 

From Asia-Pacific, Brett Worthington was chosen by the IFAJ Australian guild to attend the boot camp. Initially working as a reporter for newspapers in regional Victoria, Worthington has seven years of journalism experience in Australia. He has been a rural reporter with Australia's public broadcaster, the ABC, for two years. Worthington is now based in Adelaide, hosting the South Australia state broadcast of The Country Hour, Australia's longest running radio programme.

Other 2015 IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders are Christian Erin-Madsen, Danish Agricultural and Food Council (Denmark); Trevor Bacque, GrainsWest (Canada); Andrea Bergman, Landsbygdens Folk (Finland); Ewald Wurzinger, Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (Austria); Doerte Quinckhardt, Landwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt Westfalen-Lippe (Germany); Ben Pike, Ben Pike Communications (United Kingdom); Mary Phelan, Irish Farmers Journal (Ireland); Candace Weeda, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (USA) and Camilla Olsson, Land Lantbruk (Sweden).

"As part of its global strategy, IFAJ is taking new measures to unite colleagues from around the world," said Owen Roberts of Canada, IFAJ vice-president. "With Alltech's help we are mobilising the agricultural journalism profession, an essential link in the knowledge translation and transfer chain for farmers everywhere."

The young leaders' programme is held jointly with the IFAJ-DuPont Pioneer Master Class prior to the IFAJ congress.