Experience

Director of Marketing/Public Information Officer

Kansas State Fair

August 2018 – Present, Hutchinson, Kansas

Field Editor

High Plains Journal

January 2018 – September 2018

I started at The News in 2002 as an agricultural journalist, covering rural, agricultural and outdoors stories in the southwest quarter of Kansas. 

I have been instrumental in developing The Hutchinson News Mentorship/Scholarship Program where I mentor students and have been influential in raising thousands of dollars to fund this nonprofit. Organized speaking events and other fundraisers. An avid hunter and angler, I’m also an outdoor writer for the newspaper’s Sunday outdoor page.

As part of my work to promote rural Kansas, I’m chronicling Kansas “Dead Towns” in a project that now spans four years. Some of my work has been published in the book “Dead Towns of Central and Western Kansas.”

I’m continuously exploring new ways to tell a story. Kathy Hanks and I began our Agland podcast in 2015 – telling the stories we find on the rural byways and back roads of Kansas. It won an EPPY in 2016 from Editor and Publisher.

To here the Agland podcast, click here.

Freelance Writer 

Kansas Magazine, Hutchinson Magazine

Freelance features writer for two state publications since 2010

Agriculture Journalist

The Emporia Gazette

1999-2002 – Emporia, Kansas

Agricultural reporter for daily newspaper, as well as county commission and outdoors stories. I was also responsible for design and layout of The Gazette and its agricultural business section.

Agricultural Journalism Internship

Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

1997-1998  – Manhattan, Kansas

I wrote, designed and edited a children’s agriculture publication, as well as worked with industry groups such as Kansas Wheat.