University of Arkansas student earns ARC/C.O.nxt Scholarship

Chuck Zimmerman

Jessica Wesson, a University of Arkansas agricultural communications graduate student, received the Agricultural Relations Council 2021 ARC/C.O.nxt Scholarship. In May 2020, Wesson earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, communication and technology (AECT) from the University of Arkansas. In addition to her graduate school studies, Wesson works as a graduate assistant in the AECT department. She assists with teaching ag …

ARC, Education

ARC Foundation Receives Major Endowment Gift

Chuck Zimmerman

The Agricultural Relations Council/C.O.nxt Scholarship Program has received a very generous donation. Lyle Orwig, founder of Charleston|Orwig, now rebranded as C.O.nxt, has generously fully funded the Agricultural Relations Council/C.O.nxt Scholarship Program with a recent contribution of $75,000. It is part of an endowment established within the ARC Foundation a couple years ago. A long-time champion of agricultural public relations/public affairs, …

ARC, Public Relations

2020 Ag Relations Council Golden ARC Awards Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

Zoom provided the platform for this year’s virtual presentation of the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) Golden ARC Awards. Getting us started was John Blue Truffle Media, ARC President and the awards were announced by Kristy Mach, ARC Executive Director. Congratulations to all the winners including Padilla for receiving the Golden ARC de Excellence with its “A Recipe for Success: Fruits …

ARC, Public Relations

ZimmCast 644 – COVID-19 Impacts on Ag Comm Groups Part 2

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. This week’s program is part two of a series featuring conversations with the leadership of agricultural media and marketing associations. This week I’m sharing conversations with Samantha Kilgore, AAEA, The Ag Communicators Network, Lindsay Graber Runft, Livestock Publications Council and Kristy Mach/John Blue, Agricultural Relations Council. Each of these organizations has had to cancel …

ACN, ARC, Audio, LPC, Marketing, Media, ZimmCast

Agricultural Relations Council Seeks Golden ARC Entries

Cindy Zimmerman

Entries are now being accepted for the Agricultural Relations Council Golden ARC Awards. “The Golden ARC Awards program provides an excellent opportunity for public relations (PR) professionals to get feedback on their work and find out how their work stacks up against the others in the business of ag PR,” said ARC Executive Director Kristy Mach. “Contest categories range from …

ARC, Public Relations

ARC Webinar on Virtual Newsrooms

Cindy Zimmerman

The Ag Relations Council (ARC) webinar this Thursday is all about Virtual Newsrooms For Companies and Organizations with ZimmComm president Chuck Zimmerman. In the webinar, Chuck will answer these important questions – and more! What is a virtual newsroom? How can it be used in marketing, communications, and PR? What are the resources needed to run a virtual newsroom? In …

ARC, Media, Public Relations

ARC Scholarship and Internship Details

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) is in year four of the ARC/Gardner & Gardner Communications internship program. The 2020 intern host will be Charleston|Orwig in Hartland, Wis. The 2020 intern should have strong writing skills, organizational ability and social media skills. The ideal candidate should thrive in and enjoy being in a fast-paced, team-oriented culture. Successful interns with C|O are …

ARC

Congrats to 2019 Golden ARC Awards Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

The Ag Relations Council (ARC) had a great annual meeting last week in Kansas City where they announced the winners for the 2019 Golden ARC Awards contest. The Golden ARC de Excellence award is given to the best all-around entry in the campaigns division and this year that honor was 2019 Golden ARC Award Winners bestowed upon a campaign produced …

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, ARC, Public Relations

ARA Lifetime Award Goes to Yargus

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) presented Larry Yargus with its highest individual honor this year, the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1992, Yargus acquired Layco, the company his father Lloyd Allen Yargus founded, and led the company’s transition to Yargus Manufacturing, Inc. “Not only has Larry led his family business to major success, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, …

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, ARC, Audio

Industry Legend Don Lerch Passes Away

Cindy Zimmerman

A legend in the agricultural communications industry passed away last week age of 99. Don Lerch was one of the first members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), back when it was still the National Association of Rural Farm Directors, and was a member of the organization for 72 years. Don began his farm broadcasting career at pioneer …

ARC, Audio, NAFB