Ag Media Summit 2026: An Unforgettable Week

Lydia Hill
3 days ago
4 min read

Every year, Ag Media Summit brings together agricultural communicators from across the country to learn, network and celebrate excellence in agricultural communications. This year's conference in St. Louis, Missouri, was especially meaningful for me, not only because of the opportunities to learn from industry professionals, but because it marked several milestones in my own leadership journey.

Throughout the conference, I attended several educational sessions covering emerging trends in agricultural communications and media. I also was able to meet up with my Ag Communicators Network (ACN) mentor, Hailey Gilbreath. Hailey led an insightful workshop on A/B testing on Tuesday. Stay tuned for an article from ACN featuring our mentorship experience.

Saturday: Preparing for the Week Ahead

The week officially began by meeting with the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) officer team to prepare for our annual business meeting. Before the conference gets into full swing, there is plenty of behind-the-scenes work and practice that goes into ensuring meetings run smoothly and that members have a productive experience. It was exciting to collaborate with the team one last time as Member Relations Coordinator before transitioning into a new leadership year.

Sunday: Celebrating Communication Excellence

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to interview for the Livestock Publications Council's Forrest Bassford Award, an experience that allowed me to reflect on my growth as an agricultural communicator and discuss the work that has shaped my college career.

Congrats to Kirsten Bezner from Texas Tech University for receiving the award, and to Erin Drsocoll and Savannah Sinclair for being recognized as finalists alongside me.

Later, I helped host the National ACT Welcome Workshop, where new and returning members gathered to kick off the conference, reconnect with friends and prepare for the days ahead.

The evening concluded with the National ACT Critique and Contest Awards, where I was honored to receive first place in the Blog category. Winning this award was incredibly encouraging and reminded me that the countless hours spent writing, editing and improving my communication skills are paying off.

Monday: Big News!

Monday was undoubtedly the highlight of my week. The morning began with recognition as a Forrest Bassford Award finalist, an honor that represents excellence in agricultural communications and leadership. Being named among such talented communicators was humbling in itself.

The National ACT Business Meeting followed, where members discussed several important topics, including proposed bylaw revisions, plans for the 2027 Professional Development Conference hosted by Texas Tech University and the election of the 2026–2027 National Officer Team.

I am incredibly honored to share that I was elected to serve as the 2026–2027 National

Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow President.

Serving on the National ACT officer team as Member Relations Coordinator this past year has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. Now having the opportunity to lead this incredible organization is both exciting and humbling. I am grateful for the confidence that ACT members have placed in me, and I look forward to passing down the podcast and working alongside an outstanding officer team as we continue to grow our organization and create meaningful opportunities for agricultural communication students across the country.

Tuesday: Learning, Networking and Looking Ahead

The final full day of the conference focused on professional development and preparing for the year ahead.

Tuesday morning, I attended the Livestock Publications Council Business Meeting to be recognized one last time as a Forest Bassford finalist and as the new National ACT President. Conferences like Ag Media Summit provide far more than classroom knowledge. They offer the chance to build relationships with professionals, exchange ideas and gain insight into the future of our industry.

I also met with the newly elected National ACT officer team to begin discussing goals, expectations and plans for the upcoming year. The excitement in the room was contagious, and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together.

To wrap up the conference, I was finally able to do some sightseeing with the ABAC ACT Chapter, with a visit to the Gateway Arch. It was the perfect way to end an unforgettable week.

Looking Back

Ag Media Summit 2026 was more than just another conference. It was a week filled with learning, recognition, leadership and new beginnings.

From earning a national writing award and being recognized as a Forrest Bassford finalist to being elected National ACT President, this conference reminded me how much can happen when you invest in your passions and say yes to new opportunities.

I'm incredibly thankful to everyone who has encouraged me throughout this journey. Professors, mentors, family, friends, and fellow ACT members have all had a hand in where I am today. I can't wait to see what this next year has in store, and I'm excited to serve the organization that has played such a significant role in my collegiate experience.

Here's to another year of learning, leading and advocating for agriculture through communication.