Goodbyes have never been among my strong suits. But the time has come to say so long and farewell toThe Western Producer readers and the staff in the Saskatoon newsroom.
When I started at theProducerthis fall as an intern from the University of Regina School of Journalism, I really had no idea of what to expect. My reporting experience was limited to writing news stories and features on a variety of social issues.
To compound matters, my knowledge of farming was limited to watching television shows and reading the occasional agricultural news story.
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With each story assignment I was like a kid in a candy store, fascinated with all the scientific and technical inputs necessary for crop production.
I enjoyed working on research news stories and features because I learned so much about issues affecting agriculture.
During my time here, I have attended my fair share of ag media events, where I wondered constantly if I was the only one lost by the numerous agricultural terminologies. On many occasions it certainly seemed to be the case. During those events my recorder became my friend and theProducer’s managing editor, Michael Raine, became my go-to guy for demystifying the world of agriculture.
Despite the challenges I really had fun working at theProducer.I enjoyed learning about pulses, a word I had heard for the first time while working on a story.
It was, however, a story on turkey production that I really learned a lot of new agricultural terms.
Before writing and researching the story, my knowledge of the turkey species was quite limited. But I soon learned turkeys have different names depending on their age and sex.
I will miss the warm atmosphere of The Western Producernewsroom and the friendly staff.
During my time here I have developed a greater interest in agricultural issues and a deeper interest in agricultural journalism.
I now can appreciate the hard work and dedication that it takes to make healthy food available in the grocery store.
So as I say my final farewell, I would like to thank all the agricultural experts and farmers I interviewed for sharing their time and expertise.
Thank you,Western Producer,for a wonderful agricultural reporting experience.You have truly enriched my practice of journalism.
