Exercise Your Right to Vote, and Run

Voting for vice president-elect and directors ends Friday, Feb. 24 at midnight, ET, and you’ve no doubt noticed there is only one candidate for vice president-elect.

There were two candidates until just days before the nominating committee presented the candidate lineup to the board for its approval at the January board meeting. A sudden shift in job responsibilities resulted in the withdrawal of the second candidate.

The timing was unfortunate – ACE always tries to have multiple candidates for offices, per its constitutional charge to promote and maintain an energetic and dynamic association. But we also know one’s job comes first. On the other hand, vice president-elect candidate Doug Edlund of the University of Tennessee has served ACE in many capacities during his membership. Either candidate would have served ACE well, and, in my opinion, there is absolutely no drop-off because one candidate withdrew.

Want to give back to an association that has helped your personal and professional growth? Take an active role in its direction? Consider running for one of the director or officer positions the next time the nominating committee, comprised of past presidents, comes calling.

This is an extremely busy time. President-elect Suzanne Steel and Executive Director Holly Young are busy with the Critique and Awards Program, vice president Elizabeth Gregory North is creating a new ACE website design that should go live soon, and past president Brad Beckman has finished one of his last duties on the board – heading the candidate nominating committee. ACE directors are going about their responsibilities.

I always include one particular improv activity during communication planning sessions I present around my state. I ask individuals in a group to arrange themselves in order of shoe size without any words spoken. I watch groups from as small as 15 to as large as 25 do so, usually very quickly. A seemingly trivial exercise. Yet, they know what they have to do, each knows how to go about it, and they work together to accomplish a task without saying a word. A group, a team, an office with individuals who know the task, know how to go about it, and do it seamlessly, can be powerful and prized.

One last but very important item. The board will be deciding on new ACE management in the next several months, either an individual as with our current executive director model, a management company, or via a land-grant university.  An RFP will be sent to those expressing an interest. Don’t hesitate to offer your opinions to board members. Our contact information is at https://www.aceweb.org/board-members.

I’ve always said and still maintain, no other agricultural communication association has the depth and breadth of ACE. I’m proud to be a member.

 - Steve Miller, ACE President

Get ready for New Orleans

New Orleans is gearing up for Mardi Gras, but are you getting ready for New Orleans? Registration for ACE 2017 in the renewed New Orleans opens next month. The program committee has developed a great lineup of speakers and breakout sessions to help you refine, re-energize, review and repurpose your skills. Also in the works - an opening reception you can only experience in New Orleans, tours that are educational and entertaining and a lower registration cost!

Need help convincing your boss? Read How to Convince Your Boss to Send You to a Conference, then get your sales pitch ready, start shopping for summer clothes and makes plans to join ACE in the Big Easy!

- Tobie Blanchard, Conference Committee Co-chair

Aerial Drone Cinematography and Photography Certificate Program

Oregon State University Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) is offering an online course on using drones for media production. The Aerial Cinematography and Photography certificate program will expose students to the vast array of skills in aerial cinematography and photography with the use of small system UAVs. The course is based on current technology and regulations, and the certificate will be updated as necessary to comply with any changes in FAA policy. This single-course certificate program is offered online in an eight-week format consisting of 40-hours of instructor-led interactive course material and virtual assignments. The class starts March 6, so register soon. You can find out more information and register for the course at: https://pace.oregonstate.edu/catalog/aerial-drone-cinematography-and-photography-certificate-program

- Victor Villegas, Professional Development Director

Three Projects to Receive Professional Development Grants

Congratulations to the ACE members selected to receive $1,500 Professional Development Fund grants for the following projects:

• Barbara Chamberlin, New Mexico State University Learning Games Lab, Site Visit: Game Development Studios;
• Dennis Hinkamp, Utah State University, Drone Mapping and 3D modeling using DroneDeploy.com, Pixel3D and other emerging software packages;
  
• Mike Whitesides, Utah State University, Online Behavioral Retargeting to promote Extension Programs and Products.
  

The selection committee looked for projects with broad application to benefit as many members as possible. Project leaders will submit a written report for the ACE website. They are also encouraged to share project results during next year’s annual conference or via a webinar and to contribute to the Journal of Applied Communications.

ACE members established the grant program to encourage colleagues to pursue professional improvement projects. In addition to exploring new concepts or technologies, grants can be used to solve day-to-day problems, engage in interdisciplinary team projects, work with colleagues at other institutions, or build on previous service to ACE. Support for the program comes from individual member donations and the ACE Development Fund auction, at the annual conference. Contact me to learn more about the program and how you can contribute.

 Donna Sheffield, Development Officer

JAC Volume 100 Issue 4

The ACE publication, Journal of Applied Communications, features research-based articles on topics applicable agricultural communications professionals.  Below are highlights from three recent articles:

Exploring Perspectives of the Student Competencies Needed to Advocate for Agriculture

Written by Garrett M. Steede, Laura M. Gorham, and Erica Irlbeck  

This qualitative study explored learning objectives and curriculum goals for an undergraduate agricultural advocacy course. Phone interviews with individuals involved in agricultural advocacy revealed two-way communication skills were important when communicating with the public. Active listening, communicating with an open mind, communicating at a level of understanding, and equipping oneself with an arsenal of industry knowledge and contacts were found to be key learning outcomes for such a course. Further, role-playing activities, professional experiences, and online media communication abilities were also found to be important class assignments, activities, and skills that would allow students to improve their two-way communication abilities. The findings may also help communications practitioners and Extension personnel prepare for agricultural advocacy efforts.

Viewer Perceptions and Preferences for Farmweek

Written by McKayla Brubaker, Quisto Settle, and Elizabeth Gregory North 

Farmweek is a weekly 30-minute news broadcast produced by Mississippi State University Extension Service. In this study, the researchers surveyed to determine how frequently viewers watched Farmweek; what audiences they believed the show appealed to; what decisions they have made based on viewing the show, and what topics they wanted to see on future shows. Based on the findings, the authors provide recommendations for similar types of Extension programming.

Promoting Commodities through Comic Books: A Framing Analysis of the Captain Citrus Campaign

Written by Tiffany M. Rogers, Joy N. Rumble, and Lisa K. Lundy

A communication campaign starring Captain Citrus, first released in 2011, was aimed at elementary school students with the goals of encouraging health and agricultural literacy, as well as promoting the consumption of Florida orange juice. Analysis findings suggest that a majority of the campaign’s agricultural perspective and promotion was found in the form of images, followed by textual mentions, and symbolic references. The authors suggest the goal to promote agricultural literacy was somewhat effective; however, it could be strengthened.

- Courtney Meyers, ACE Research Director