We are honored to have a distinguished panel of judges, each representing an important facet of the agricultural industry, supporting the Future of Southern Ag Student Essay Contest. Region I Jim Arnold Jim Arnold is a veteran communications specialist, currently serving as Communications/Advertising/Promotions Manager for Helena Chemical Company in Memphis, Tenn. Before joining Helena nearly 20 years ago, Arnold worked for advertising & public relations agencies and as a freelance writer. He held a position on the editorial staff of Progressive Farmer Magazine for five years, as well. Arnold is a native of southeast Missouri and has a B.S. in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia. Paul L. Hollis Paul L. Hollis is editor of Southeast Farm Press, an agricultural publication covering commercial crops in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Hollis has been covering Southeast agriculture for 20 years. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Auburn University, where he served as publications editor and news editor for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Hollis is also an adjunct instructor of English at Southern Union State Community College in Opelika, Ala. Erika Osmundson Erika Osmundson joined AgCareers.com in May 2004 as the U.S. Accounts Manager. As AgCareers.com grew, Osmundson moved into her current role of Marketing and Communications Manager in 2005. In this role, Osmundson is responsible for corporate branding, event planning, written communications (both internal and external), sales tool development, speaking engagements and strategic planning for AgCareers.com. Prior to joining AgCareers.com, Osmundson’s experience includes six years of marketing animal health products to the swine, dairy, veal, poultry and companion animal sectors for APC, Inc. Osmundson is a graduate of Iowa State University, with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications - Public Relations and a minor in Spanish. Region II Trey Cooke Trey Cooke currently serves as Executive Director of Delta Wildlife and Delta F.A.R.M. in Stoneville, Miss., where he has worked since 1998. Both organizations work with agricultural producers and landowners to help build a more economically and environmentally sustainable future for agriculture. Cooke’s agricultural experience began at an early age while working on a cotton, rice and soybean farm during his summers. He obtained a degree in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Delta State University. While attending Delta State, Cooke worked for Bayer CropScience in Research & Development. Cooke left the Mississippi Delta in 1995 to attend graduate school at Sam Houston State University in Texas. There, he earned a Master’s Degree in Biology. After graduate school, Cooke worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Colorado before returning to the Delta. Elton Robinson Elton Robinson is editor of Delta Farm Press, a weekly agricultural publication covering commercial crops in Mississippi, west Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and the Missouri Bootheel. Robinson has written hundreds of feature articles on Mid-South farmers and their production practices, as well as articles on marketing and technology. Robinson will begin his 22nd season covering Mid-South agriculture this spring. The Farm Press Publication family also includes Southeast Farm Press, Southwest Farm Press and Western Farm Press. Marjory L. Walker Marjory Walker is the director of communication, production and audio visual services for the National Cotton Council in Memphis, Tenn. The National Cotton Council is the central cotton organization representing all seven segments of the industry. Walker is a native of Hattiesburg, Miss. She holds a B.A. in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Memphis. Previously, Walker served as assistant director and manager of marketing communications for the National Cotton Council. She also served as communications specialist, manager of communications, director of communications, and vice president of communications for the Cotton Board, which is also in Memphis. The Cotton Board administers the producer-funded Cotton Research and Promotion Program conducted by Cotton Incorporated. At the National Cotton Council, she is responsible for managing the Web site content; overseeing the print, broadcast, graphics and audio visual managers; membership marketing, services and information; membership service materials; and Cotton Foundation Project communications projects. She is a past national president of the National Agri-Marketing Association, an advisor to the board for the Mid-South Chapter of NAMA, a member of the National Association of Female Executives, an associate member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, a member of the Memphis and National Public Relations Society of America, a member of the Memphis Cotton Wives, and is listed as one of the Outstanding Young Women of America and Who's Who Among American Executives. Walker lives in Somerville, Tenn., with her husband, Bob. Bob is the owner of Bob Walker Farms and a partner with his brother in the JSW Corp. trucking company. National Dr. Jennifer Shaw Dr. Jennifer Shaw is currently Head of Sustainability in North America for Syngenta Crop Protection in Greensboro, N.C., where she leads the alignment of business initiatives and innovation with corporate responsibility. Shaw has been with Syngenta and its legacy companies since 1989 (primarily in the U.S.), originally managing environmental field programs and operating an aquatic ecosystem research facility. Shaw has held several leadership positions in ecological risk assessment, product stewardship, sustainable agriculture, regulatory and issues management. In the past 10 years, she has been engaged in addressing major environmental challenges for U.S. agriculture and has held many leadership and expert roles in multi-stakeholder initiatives. Shaw was educated in Scotland and has a B.Sc. with 1st Class Honors in Agricultural Zoology from the University of Glasgow and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Epidemiology from the University of Aberdeen and the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology. Ron Smith Ron Smith has spent more than 30 years covering Sunbelt agriculture and currently serves as editor of Southwest Farm Press. Smith began his career in agricultural journalism as an Experiment Station and Extension editor at Clemson University, where he earned a Masters Degree in English in 1975. He served as associate editor for Southeast Farm Press from 1978 through 1989. In 1990, Smith helped launch Southern Turf Management Magazine and served as editor. He also helped launch two other regional Turf and Landscape publications and launched and edited Florida Grove and Vegetable Management for the Farm Press Group. Within two years of launch, the turf magazines were well-respected, award-winning publications. Smith has received numerous awards for writing and photography in both agriculture and landscape journalism. He is past president of The Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association and was chosen as the first media representative to the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Advisory Board. He was named Communicator of the Year for the Metropolitan Atlanta Agricultural Communicators Association. Smith also worked in public relations, specializing in media relations for agricultural companies. Smith lives with his wife Pat in Denton, Texas. They have two grown children, Stacey and Nick, and two grandsons. Dr. Mike Strain Dr. Mike Strain, elected to serve as Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007, was sworn into office in January 2008. Born and raised on a cattle farm in Covington, Strain is no stranger to rural life in Louisiana. He was very active in FFA and 4-H and remains involved in his family’s cattle business. Strain’s interest in livestock led him to pursue studies in pre-veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University. In 1983, Strain earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from LSU and quickly found clients for his new large animal practice through the family cattle operation. Together with his wife, Susan, the Strains opened Claiborne Hill Veterinary Hospital in Covington, where Susan focuses on a small animal practice and Strain remains involved in hospital management and herd health consulting. Strain stayed true to his rural roots and profession through membership in the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. He served as parish president and state board member for Farm Bureau, a parish officer for LCA and state president for LVMA. In 1999, Strain was elected to the office of State Representative in House District 74. He ran unopposed to win a second term in 2003. While in the Louisiana Legislature, Strain served on the Agriculture Committee and chaired the Legislative Rural Caucus, the largest legislative caucus in Louisiana. After two terms in the Legislature, Strain announced he would seek the statewide office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007, the position he now holds.