It is almost time for the 2016 IFAJ Congress in Bonn, Germany. I’m making final preparations for the trip thanks to our sponsor, Bayer. In advance of the Congress there are some pre-tours as well as some additional activities that include the journalism Master Class sponsored by Dupont and the Boot Camp. The Boot Camp participants are winner of the IFAj-Alltech Young Leaders Award. Here is some information on the Boot Camp. I will add that some of the things these “students” will learn and experience are the same as any of us attending the Congress itself.
Ten international agricultural journalists are packing their bags for boot camp, a special ag media tactical training in Bonn, Germany, just prior to the annual congress for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ).
The lucky travelers are winners of the 11th annual IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders Award, which recognizes 10 exceptional communicators from across the globe. This year’s group will represent North America, Belgium, Ghana, Australia, Austria, Norway, Burkina Faso, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
According to the participants, the international diversity and interaction is a major attraction. They are eager to strengthen their reporting skills, but they also hope to learn about the agriculture industry in the boot camp’s host country of Germany and trade information with other attendees on agricultural issues from their home countries.
“My expectations are to learn a lot from other outstanding agricultural journalists, network with my international peers at the event and enjoy learning more about German and European agriculture on the tours,” said Sarah Hill, a freelance journalist from South Dakota.
Hill is specifically hoping to learn more about what the dairy and beef industries are like in Germany and Europe. She also said she hopes to hone her skills as a writer, photographer and marketer.