MFB values writer’s talent at translating ag’s story
MFB values writer’s talent at translating ag’s story
MFB values writer’s talent at translating ag’s story
MFB values writer’s talent at translating ag’s story
MFB values writer’s talent at translating ag’s story
Edward Freundl honored as MFB Ag Communicator of Year
This award announcement was made in advance of Michigan Farm Bureau’s 89th Annual Meeting. A photo from the award ceremony is now available at http://www.michfb.com/annual.
GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 4, 2008 — Edward Freundl doesn’t have a farming background, but he has embraced the opportunities that media work has afforded him to learn – and to educate others – about the state’s food and fiber industry.
In honor of his thorough reporting and knack for translating complex agricultural topics and issues for everyday readers, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) presented Feundl with the Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award during an awards ceremony Dec. 4 at its 89th annual meeting in Grand Rapids.
The Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award honors journalists and other media professionals for outstanding work helping to “tell the story of agriculture” by informing and educating the non-farming public about the state’s second-largest industry. Freundl was recognized in the print journalism category for his work with Heritage Newspapers’ Chelsea Standard, Dexter Leader and Manchester Enterprise. A second award category recognizes broadcast media.
Freundl was nominated for the award by the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau, and selected by an MFB panel from nominations submitted by county Farm Bureaus across the state.
In making the nomination, the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau said Freundl demonstrated “genuine curiosity and an eagerness to learn,” along with a “willingness to tackle complex and controversial issues related to economics, agricultural market trends, and the debate surrounding alternative fuel sources.”
Farm Bureau members were especially impressed with Freundl’s yearlong series of monthly articles profiling Huehl Acres, a local dairy farm, said Kenny Siler, Washtenaw County Farm Bureau president. Freundl was introduced to Huehl brothers, Jerry and Denny, with help from Farm Bureau volunteers and MFB’s Adopt-A-Farm media program.
“Ed embraced Adopt-A-Farm with dedication, humor and an enthusiasm reflected in his writing and photographs,” said Siler. “The series required an enormous amount of time in the field during every season and weather condition. In a sense he became ‘one of us’ through this adoption, and took readers along with him on the adventure.”
The “adoption” was just as enjoyable for Freundl, who says the experience was “a real education for me, too.”
“I really appreciated the opportunity to get into (Jerry and Denny’s) lives and explain what they do to people who maybe don’t understand,” Freundl said. “We all have our preconceived notions, but farming is no longer what it used to be. It’s a big business now, and people need to understand how the marketplace has changed the family farm.
“What I’ve found most fascinating is how the global marketplace has an effect on the decisions these farmers are making.”
MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization, representing more than 47,000 farm families.
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Editor’s Note: Visit http://www.michfb.com/annual for photos from the awards ceremony. For more information after Dec. 5, contact County Communications Manager Jeremy C. Nagel at (800) 292-2680, ext. 6584.
Edward Freundl honored as MFB Ag Communicator of Year
This award announcement was made in advance of Michigan Farm Bureau’s 89th Annual Meeting. A photo from the award ceremony is now available at http://www.michfb.com/annual.
GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 4, 2008 — Edward Freundl doesn’t have a farming background, but he has embraced the opportunities that media work has afforded him to learn – and to educate others – about the state’s food and fiber industry.
In honor of his thorough reporting and knack for translating complex agricultural topics and issues for everyday readers, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) presented Feundl with the Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award during an awards ceremony Dec. 4 at its 89th annual meeting in Grand Rapids.
The Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award honors journalists and other media professionals for outstanding work helping to “tell the story of agriculture” by informing and educating the non-farming public about the state’s second-largest industry. Freundl was recognized in the print journalism category for his work with Heritage Newspapers’ Chelsea Standard, Dexter Leader and Manchester Enterprise. A second award category recognizes broadcast media.
Freundl was nominated for the award by the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau, and selected by an MFB panel from nominations submitted by county Farm Bureaus across the state.
In making the nomination, the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau said Freundl demonstrated “genuine curiosity and an eagerness to learn,” along with a “willingness to tackle complex and controversial issues related to economics, agricultural market trends, and the debate surrounding alternative fuel sources.”
Farm Bureau members were especially impressed with Freundl’s yearlong series of monthly articles profiling Huehl Acres, a local dairy farm, said Kenny Siler, Washtenaw County Farm Bureau president. Freundl was introduced to Huehl brothers, Jerry and Denny, with help from Farm Bureau volunteers and MFB’s Adopt-A-Farm media program.
“Ed embraced Adopt-A-Farm with dedication, humor and an enthusiasm reflected in his writing and photographs,” said Siler. “The series required an enormous amount of time in the field during every season and weather condition. In a sense he became ‘one of us’ through this adoption, and took readers along with him on the adventure.”
The “adoption” was just as enjoyable for Freundl, who says the experience was “a real education for me, too.”
“I really appreciated the opportunity to get into (Jerry and Denny’s) lives and explain what they do to people who maybe don’t understand,” Freundl said. “We all have our preconceived notions, but farming is no longer what it used to be. It’s a big business now, and people need to understand how the marketplace has changed the family farm.
“What I’ve found most fascinating is how the global marketplace has an effect on the decisions these farmers are making.”
MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization, representing more than 47,000 farm families.
-30-
Editor’s Note: Visit http://www.michfb.com/annual for photos from the awards ceremony. For more information after Dec. 5, contact County Communications Manager Jeremy C. Nagel at (800) 292-2680, ext. 6584.
Edward Freundl honored as MFB Ag Communicator of Year
This award announcement was made in advance of Michigan Farm Bureau’s 89th Annual Meeting. A photo from the award ceremony is now available at http://www.michfb.com/annual.
GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 4, 2008 — Edward Freundl doesn’t have a farming background, but he has embraced the opportunities that media work has afforded him to learn – and to educate others – about the state’s food and fiber industry.
In honor of his thorough reporting and knack for translating complex agricultural topics and issues for everyday readers, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) presented Feundl with the Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award during an awards ceremony Dec. 4 at its 89th annual meeting in Grand Rapids.
The Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award honors journalists and other media professionals for outstanding work helping to “tell the story of agriculture” by informing and educating the non-farming public about the state’s second-largest industry. Freundl was recognized in the print journalism category for his work with Heritage Newspapers’ Chelsea Standard, Dexter Leader and Manchester Enterprise. A second award category recognizes broadcast media.
Freundl was nominated for the award by the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau, and selected by an MFB panel from nominations submitted by county Farm Bureaus across the state.
In making the nomination, the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau said Freundl demonstrated “genuine curiosity and an eagerness to learn,” along with a “willingness to tackle complex and controversial issues related to economics, agricultural market trends, and the debate surrounding alternative fuel sources.”
Farm Bureau members were especially impressed with Freundl’s yearlong series of monthly articles profiling Huehl Acres, a local dairy farm, said Kenny Siler, Washtenaw County Farm Bureau president. Freundl was introduced to Huehl brothers, Jerry and Denny, with help from Farm Bureau volunteers and MFB’s Adopt-A-Farm media program.
“Ed embraced Adopt-A-Farm with dedication, humor and an enthusiasm reflected in his writing and photographs,” said Siler. “The series required an enormous amount of time in the field during every season and weather condition. In a sense he became ‘one of us’ through this adoption, and took readers along with him on the adventure.”
The “adoption” was just as enjoyable for Freundl, who says the experience was “a real education for me, too.”
“I really appreciated the opportunity to get into (Jerry and Denny’s) lives and explain what they do to people who maybe don’t understand,” Freundl said. “We all have our preconceived notions, but farming is no longer what it used to be. It’s a big business now, and people need to understand how the marketplace has changed the family farm.
“What I’ve found most fascinating is how the global marketplace has an effect on the decisions these farmers are making.”
MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization, representing more than 47,000 farm families.
-30-
Editor’s Note: Visit http://www.michfb.com/annual for photos from the awards ceremony. For more information after Dec. 5, contact County Communications Manager Jeremy C. Nagel at (800) 292-2680, ext. 6584.
