Farm Bureau publications, media earn top honors

California Farm Bureau newspaper, magazine and website teams have earned four first-place honors in the American Farm Bureau Federation Communications Awards.

The awards, recognizing media products and communications outreach efforts by state Farm Bureaus, were presented at AFBF’s communications conference in Kansas City, Missouri, this month. 

For publication of Ag Alert®, California Farm Bureau Director of Publications and Media Relations Barbara Arciero, editors Christine Souza, Ching Lee, Caleb Hampton and Linda DuBois, and
production designer Shawn Collins won for best newspaper. The longtime Farm Bureau news publication was recognized for its quality reporting and balance of news and feature articles that showcase the voice of the farmer and the organization. 

Hampton earned the top prize for the best agriculture story on the impacts of California’s 2014 landmark groundwater law, known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, on land values.

Farm Bureau’s California Bountiful® publication won top honors as best
magazine, with the award recognizing Arciero, Assistant Editor DuBois, designers Paula Erath and Nicole Love, and writers Hampton, Lee and Souza. 

The California Farm Bureau marketing team, including Christina Apkarian, Connor Duncan, Alex Eickmann and Darren Lee, won top honors for best website for content focused on the latest agricultural news, advocacy efforts, business solutions and member benefits.

In related awards news, California Bountiful TV, the long-running lifestyle program produced by the California Farm Bureau, was nominated in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 54th Annual Northern California Area Emmy® Awards. 

Program host and Executive Producer Aubrey Aquino and photographer Brian Farinas were nominated in the Lifestyle- News or Short Form Content category for a feature on “Grapeseed Oil Upcycled from Winery Waste.” 

San Francisco/Northern California is one of 19 chapters awarding regional Emmy® statuettes. Entries aired during the 2024 calendar year. 

The awards ceremony will be held June 14 in Sacramento.