OLDS, Alta. — A project to encourage students to think about careers in agricultural journalism and communication was launched during a tour of Olds College in Olds.
The goal of the Alberta Farm Writers Association Legacy Project is to raise awareness and educate students about careers in agricultural journalism and communication, said Janet Kanters, an agricultural reporter and the initial spark behind the project.
“This is something I thought about years ago when looking at the agriculture communications program at the University of Guelph. I wanted to know how we get young people into ag communications and journalism,” said Kanters of Standard, Alta.
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The project will see experienced farm writers conduct in-class visits with students about the opportunities available in the agricultural communications industry. The association will make presentations to high school, college, university and 4-H students to promote the opportunities in agriculture communications.
“This is just another option for students. I went to journalism school. I didn’t expect to go into agriculture and I am glad I did,” she said.
The reporters will deliver a multimedia presentation, customized to outline their own career journey and achievements, to students about the opportunities in agriculture journalism.
“I have been doing interviews for many, many years. It would be nice for the people here at Olds College, learning about agriculture, to become ag journalists.”
Craig Lester, AFWA president, said the project helps members of the association give something back.
“The initiative will actively ensure new faces continue to enter this rich, rewarding and surprisingly varied media subsector,” said Lester.
Tracey Feist of Springbank, Alta., said the Legacy Project is also a way of keeping the Alberta Farm Writers Association, founded in 1955, vibrant.
“We have to start somewhere and this is a way our association can give back to colleges and universities. We can come out and speak to students, to assist and mentor them. Maybe we offer a student membership. We have to find ways to be sustainable and this legacy project is a way to get it started,” said Feist.
In a history book of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation, CBC reporter Tom Leach, one of the original founders, said: “We foresaw the improving influence we could have on the quality of farm reporting, how we could encourage more intellectually minded students to enter the field of farm journalism, and we could even imagine that our influence might help establish suitable training centres in the agricultural colleges where aspiring writers could receive adequate instruction in the art of research and reporting, either by radio or TV or press.”
Feist said the legacy project helps the association attract new members and encourages more students to become ag reporters.
“I went to the (United States) to get my degree and how great would it be to have an agriculture degree program here on Alberta soil to ensure we are providing those opportunities for learning when it comes to these career choices. This is a viable career option for them. It is rewarding, it is rejuvenating.”
