Reflections of an Ag Journalist

This is Tim Hammerich of the Ag Information Network with your Farm of the Future Report.

Since beginning his career in agricultural journalism in 1990, Todd Fitchette has witnessed the industry’s many changes. Yet despite the demanding challenges, Fitchette remains deeply committed to the field. When asked what has kept him engaged for more than three decades, he says it's not just the stories but something more personal.

Fitchette… “ Really the people. They're just nice people. I mean there's folks that you can sit down and have a burger to drink with or talk in the tailgate of a pickup about whatever's going on, whether it's on their farm or world issues or whatnot—the weather that day, maybe. That and learning—my grandfather eons ago said, ‘Never stop learning. Don't stop learning.” I was 10 or 12 years old at the time when he said that, yeah, okay Grandpa. But it's true. If I keep learning about agriculture and learning about farming and what works, what doesn't work, what keeps farmers up at night, and then finding ways to write about that informs and educates our readers.”

Todd Fitchette is the current editor of Western Farm Press, a branch of the Farm Progress Group.