Congratulations to the highly-talented Margy Eckelkamp, who has been named leader of Farm Journal’s Top Producer brand. Her new role will include directing editorial content for Top Producer in print and online and developing the program for Top Producer Summit, the industry’s top educational event for large-scale farmers and ranchers.

“I look forward to stewarding these outstanding brands as they serve key audiences in agriculture — owners and managers of leading agricultural operations and the trusted advisers who guide them,” Eckelkamp said. “Top Producer is the leader in profiling the most creative, ingenious and successful farmers, ranchers and growers. As technology transforms what’s possible, consumer demands change and the global ag markets are ever more dynamic, we will elevate the service Top Producer provides to the business side of farming while remaining committed to the strong foundation of the magazine, events and brand.”

Farm Journal says “Eckelkamp brings 17 years of creating best-in-class content for farmers and agriculture retail professionals to this new role, which includes continuing to serve as editor of The Scoop.” It was just over 17 years ago that Margy was one of the very first sponsored bloggers on AgWired for the Commodity Classic in 2006.

She was Margy Fischer and a senior at the University of Missouri when she and Mary Irelan were chosen by Monsanto to be the student bloggers for the Classic – the first time it had ever been done and this new media thing was just getting started. Margy immediately showed how capable she was as a multi-media journalist by writing on the spot reports, doing interviews, attending press conferences and taking photos. Farm Journal hired her and she’s been there ever since.

Eckelkamp spent the first seven years of her career reporting on agronomy, machinery and technology, which included leading the Farm Journal series of Corn College events and coordinating the Farm Journal Test Plots. She also helped relaunch and expand the Machinery Pete business to become the leading marketplace for farm equipment. Since 2016 her reporting has focused on the business side of agriculture since joining Farm Journal’s brand serving ag retailers, now The Scoop, which includes a multimedia portfolio across digital, print and the only podcast specifically serving the space.

Now she will be running a brand that was launched as Top Operator in 1984 on the heels of the farm crisis, and then transitioned to a standalone magazine carrying the Top Producer brand the year after. The annual Top Producer Summit has become the top-tier event, including specific content for women in agriculture and the next generation of farm leaders.