It takes a whole lot of work, a small amount of magic, and a dash of good luck to prepare—and pull off—the Agricultural Media Summit.

In the final episode of Above the Fold's "What I Wish I Knew in My 20s" Podcast series, Host Kelsey Litchfield chats with "twenty-something" Emily Roden. 

Roden was introduced to the world of agriculture by her mom. She then found herself crafting a career in the ag comms industry. However, as Emily describes, it didn't come without some challenges, like quitting her job without another one lined up.

Listen as Emily shares how she learned to overcome obstacles and adapt her skillset throughout many different industries. 

“I was Terrified, But I Knew I was Going to Do It Anyways” with Rachel Peabody

Rachel Peabody is the director of communications at Illinois Soybean Association, and she always knew from a young age she wanted a career in agricultural communications. Rachel started on the journalism track in college but quickly found her passion for public relations. In this episode, she shares insight into her journey and how each step strategically built her career.

In this episode, Rachel shares:

• Why you should take the opportunity that gets you started

"Be diligent in every situation ... apply yourself."

A freelance writer and photographer, and owner of HLensPhotos, ACN Board Member Harlen Persinger's pictures have been published in multiple ag media publications across the U.S. and internationally.

Harlen has achieved the title of ACN "Master Photographer" three times and earned the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other accolades.

In this episode, Harlen reflects on his career, international travels, and lessons he learned along the way. He also reveals why you should never give up on a photo, the importance of practicing your craft, how to be diligent in every situation and apply yourself, plus how to capture eye-appealing photos. 

Listen now...

"You Might Be Rejected First, But Keep on Trying." 

In part one of the "What I Wish I Knew in My 20's" ACN Podcast Series, Past President Betsy Freese shares some of the challenges of starting a career. 

In this episode, Betsy shares:

* How she learned to be direct and assertive in her career

* The importance of pitching ideas to your boss

* Why you should always respect comments that are off the record

* Why being bored in your job falls on you

Listen as she describes how these tips provided learning experiences and beneficial opportunities that created a long, successful career in the ag comm industry. 

The secret is out! The ACN Podcast is undergoing some major renovations—some we can tell you about, and some that will have to wait. 

Striking out on your own can be an exciting and scary time for freelancers and new business owners. 

Media ethics remain a big concern for consumers - and for journalists. In this episode, DTN Editor-in-Chief Greg Horstmeier and University of Illinois Ag Comms Professor Dr. Owen Roberts,, discuss the history of ethics. They also talk about the blurry lines of advocacy vs. journalism, the issues of a 24/7 news cycle and information overload, plus, the need for professional ethics statements and documents, and more.

People say hindsight is always 20/20 - words that ring true no matter what age you are!

The year 2021 mainly focused on celebrating opportunities to reconnect in-person with family, friends, and co-workers. This included returning to a live version of the Ag Media Summit!

So, what's in store for 2022? AAEA President Mindy Ward shares some insight into a few initiatives she, and board members, hope to roll out in the new year.