High Plains Journal field editors Lacey Vilhauer and Kylene Scott were recognized for their work over the past year, some of which were recognized at the recent Ag Media Summit in Palm Springs, California.
Vilhauer achieved the Level Five—Master Writer status from the Ag Communicators Network. Vilhauer has submitted stories every year since she started as a page designer in Dodge City. A Level Five—Master Writer is earned with five judge’s merits in five different categories, or by winning first place in three different categories or winning the American Ag Editors Association Writer of the Year. The Master Writer Program has six levels—the final level being Writer of Merit. Writers must earn points of merit for articles in 10 of the 11 categories to receive this honor.
Vilhauer placed first in the Humorous writing category with “A cultivated respect for vegetable gardening.” She also received points of merit from the judges for “The man behind Hank the Cowdog” in the Personal Profile writing category, “Mysterious mutilations: who or what is killing these cattle?” in the Issues category and “Reflections on my first year as a farm wife” in the Regular Column category.
Awards were presented as part of contests by the AAEA and Livestock Publications Council.
Livestock Publications Council awards
For the Livestock Publications Council awards, Vilhauer received a second-place honor in the In-Depth Reporting class with her story “Mysterious mutilations: Who or what is killing these cattle?”
Scott’s article “Taking the long way home” tied for second in the producer profile contest. Scott also received numerous photography awards. Her photo for the “Governor proclaims May as Beef Month in Kansas” was first in the Nuts and Bolts photography contest. She received third place recognition in two other categories—People’s Choice in the people category and People’s Choice in the general contest.
“We’re really proud of Lacey’s and Kylene’s work,” said Editor Dave Bergmeier. “They both work very hard and are the consummate professionals and they always go the extra mile to make sure stories and photographs meet their high expectations and to serve HPJ readers in our various formats.
“While we see it here on a daily basis it is great that professional organizations recognize Lacey and Kylene because those members are their peers on a national basis.”
