Field Notes

In this episode of The Story of Agriculture Podcast, guest host Lexi Marek, Iowa State student in public service and administration in agriculture and journalism, interviews Co-Founder of Herdmark Media, Inc., Marlene Eick.

Take a moment this to enjoy some turkey and pumpkin pie, and give thanks for all of this year's blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!

As I was writing scripts last night for an upcoming project I was inspired by these words which, while not suitable for the film, managed to find their way to the end of my pen. Have a great week. - BJE

Ivory Harlow and her husband knew that the next step in their life, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, was to farm. They searched for the best places in the country to start a farm, and when they drove into the hills of southern Ohio they knew they were home. After finding the perfect farm, with a beautiful 100-year-old red barn built from American chestnut, they began laying the groundwork for Dickie Bird Farms. Initially a direct marketing vegetable and egg and poultry operation, new opportunities led the farm towards transition to the meat goat and forage operation they are today.

Whether we’re writing post text for social media or the script for our next film, we challenge ourselves to answer these four questions to help make our stories stronger.

How do you balance being a mom, full time ag communication professor, part time freelance photographer, farmer and active advocate for agriculture? For Dr. Emily Buck, it is all about priorities. After her family and students, she finds time to prioritize her advocacy work because the health of the industry impacts her career as a professor, her family's farm and her community. Listen in on a conversation with Dr. Buck as she talks us through what it’s like to balance so many roles that are all important to her.

If you’ve ever done much with livestock, you’ve probably spent a lot of time in the truck. Whether heading to a show, a sale, a clinic or to just to view some animals at a farm, there always seems to be a lot of driving in between the excitement of the events. These drives became the inspiration behind one of our most recent brand films; Every Drive.

In this episode of The Story of Agriculture Podcast, guest host Lea Kimley, Ohio State student in agricultural communication, interviews Co-Founder and Creative Lead of Herdmark Media, Inc., B.J. Eick.

How do you become a professor? For Dr. Annie Specht it started when she was a little girl. Her family raised registered cattle, and at that time you didn't just send in a photograph of their markings, you drew them out on the registration application. This became one of Annie's jobs on the farm and led to a love for drawing, design and eventually other aspects of communication. A degree in agricultural communication fed her love of design and agriculture but also exposed her to research and science side of the field.

I grew up on a farm. At the time, my family had a farrow-to-finish hog farm and also grew corn, soybeans and wheat. I was very involved in 4-H and FFA at the local and state levels. I was an agricultural education major. I was what you might call a "farm kid," part of the larger agriculture industry community, maybe even someone who advocates for agriculture. That's me.

What kind of career is a collegiate livestock judging team member led to? For Meg Drake it was broadcast journalism that turned her talent in giving oral reasons into a career where speaking in front of others is key. Meg has combined this talent with her passion for horses and her education in agricultural communication into a career with start-up television network RIDE TV.

When shooting video or photography, composition is key. Being able to arrange the element of a shot into an aesthetically pleasing sequence can make all the difference in determining what is interesting and what is boring.