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Assistance Available To Attend 2012 IFAJ Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s not too early to look ahead to the 2012 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress which will take place in Sweden. It’s on my calendar. If you need some assistance going, one option is for AAEA members to apply for a professional development stipend. Another is for young agricultural communicators to apply for an IFAJ-Alltech Young Leader Award.

AAEA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STIPENDS
The AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF) is funding three, $2,000 stipends to help AAEA members at large (a fourth stipend is awarded to the current International Committee chair) travel to Sweden for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress this summer.

Send your completed application to Steve Werblow, chair of the AAEA International Committee, by FEBRUARY 3. Stipend winners will be announced February 10 – the day IFAJ Congress registration opens.

Application Form (.doc)

IFAJ-ALLTECH YOUNG LEADERS AWARD
Applications are now available for the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award, an exciting program for agricultural communicators 35 years of age and younger. Here are some highlights:

– A 1,000-Euro ($1,272) prize
– Travel scholarship to the 2012 IFAJ Congress in Sweden
– Participation in a professional development Boot Camp with the other award winners from around the world
– Connection with a mentor from the IFAJ community

Each IFAJ member guild (AAEA is a guild, and you are all members) can nominate one candidate to the global competition. The AAEA International Committee will select one candidate from among the AAEA member applicants; judging of the 10-person Class of 2012 will be conducted by an IFAJ panel.

Entry requirements are available online. They include:

– Candidates must have been no more than 35 years of age on December 31, 2011
– Applicant must be an active or affiliate member in good standing of AAEA
– Application includes a brief essay
– Candidate must submit three samples of his or her work for judging.

Application Form (.doc)

Lycka till! (That’s Swedish for “Good luck!”)

IFAJ, International