The halls of the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) convention echoed with cheers for the orange and black this year, as Oklahoma State University’s ACT Chapter proudly claimed the coveted Overall Chapter of the Year award. This top honor caps an extraordinary year of hard work, creativity, and leadership, underscored by a sweeping collection of individual and group accolades across nearly every division of the national critique and contest.
OSU’s triumph as Chapter of the Year wasn’t just about a single win; it was a testament to their comprehensive excellence, earning individual Chapter of the Year awards in a remarkable five key categories:
- Educational Activities
- Social Activities
- Leadership
- Fundraising
- Community Service
The individual student achievements were equally impressive, painting a clear picture of the depth of talent within OSU’s Agricultural Communications program. Students secured top placements across all six divisions of the Critique & Contest:
Writing Division: OSU students consistently demonstrated their storytelling prowess, with Madison Paden taking 1st Place in Long Feature Story, Trinity White claiming 1st in Long Personality Profile, and Kelsey Dowdle earning 1st in News Story. Sara Howard led the way with a 1st in Short Feature Story, and Alison Chaney tied for 1st in Single Blog Entry.
Publications Division: The Cowboy Journal: Summer/Fall and The Cowboy Journal: Winter/Spring both secured 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the Magazine category, showcasing the chapter’s strong editorial and design capabilities. Jill Meador, Kate Schaefer, Bella Bowen, and Taylor Epperson also earned multiple placements in Brochure or Pamphlet.
Electronic Media Division: OSU students excelled in digital storytelling. McKenna Breeding tied for 1st in Long Video Package, and Karli Schwerdtfeger & Brilee Payne clinched 1st in Short Video Package, demonstrating innovative approaches to visual communication.
Photography Division: The visual narrative was strong for OSU, with Taylor Epperson capturing 1st in Animal Photo and Brianna Stockwell taking 1st in Food Photo. Anna Hendricks led a strong showing in Photo Series with a 1st place, and Hannah Wilcocks earned 1st in Plant Photo. Taylor Epperson, Olivia Bellah, and Addison Raber also secured multiple top spots across various photo categories.
Design and Layout Division: Creativity in visual communication was evident, with Kiersten Bourquin leading the charge with a 1st in Advertisement. Maddie Dollarhide took 1st in Logo, and Makayla Craig secured 1st in Page Layout. Kaitlyn Broughton’s Poster or Flyer also earned a 1st place finish, and Addison Raber’s Web Design claimed 1st place.
Public Relations Division: The chapter’s strategic communication skills shone through, with Taylor McGill earning 1st in Social Media Campaign, highlighting their ability to engage audiences effectively.
The OSU ACT chapter also celebrated a significant individual honor with Oklahoma Farm Report’s Maci Carter being named the 2025 ACT Distinguished Member of the Year, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the chapter’s success. Furthermore, Kenna Sandberg was recognized as one of the 2025 ACT Honored Chapter Advisers, a nod to the invaluable guidance provided by the faculty.
The overwhelming success at the 2025 National ACT Awards solidifies Oklahoma State University’s position as a national leader in cultivating the next generation of agricultural communicators, ready to tell the vital stories of the industry.
Farm Director, KC Sheperd, also won the 2025 ACT Honored Professional award at the Conference.
See all the awards listed below:
Congratulations to all of the 2025 National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow award winners. Your hard work, creativity, and leadership were on full display this year!
Critique & Contest
Writing Division:
Editorial
1st Place – Jacob Zajkowski, Cornell University
Long Feature Story
1st Place – Madison Paden, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Maci Guay, Texas A&M University
3rd Place – Reese Gonsalves, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Jacob Zajkowski, Cornell University
5th Place – Jaci Allen, Oklahoma State University
Long Personality Profile
1st Place – Trinity White, Oklahoma State University
Tie
1st Place – Allie Herring, Texas Tech University
2nd Place – Mary Wood, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Raegon Conrad, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Grace Bryson, Oklahoma State University
News Story
1st Place – Kelsey Dowdle, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Taylor Epperson, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Jill Meador, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Cole Baerlocher, Texas A&M University
Research Related Writing
1st Place – Maci Guay, Texas A&M University
2nd Place – Jordan Murphy, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Makayla Craig, Oklahoma State University
Short Feature Story
1st Place – Sara Howard, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Jessimar Quintana, University of Florida
3rd Place – Brianna Stockwell, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Hallie Thompson, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Abbie Helbach, Oklahoma State University
Short Personality Profile
1st Place – Maci Guay, Texas A&M University
2nd Place – Savannah Sinclair, Texas Tech University
3rd Place – Jacob Zajkowski, Cornell University
4th Place – Sydney Van Pelt, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Kyra Holt, Texas Tech University
Single Blog Entry
1st Place – Jennie Abbott, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
Tie
1st Place – Alison Chaney, Oklahoma State University
Publications Division:
Brochure or Pamphlet
1st Place – Kyra Holt, Texas Tech University
2nd Place – Jill Meador, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Kate Schaefer, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Bella Bowen, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Taylor Epperson, Oklahoma State University
Magazine
1st Place – The Agriculturist 2024, Texas Tech University
2nd Place – The Cowboy Journal: Summer/Fall, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – The Cowboy Journal: Winter/Spring, Oklahoma State University
Newsletter or E-Newsletter
1st Place – Molly Freese, Iowa State University
Electronic Media Division:
Long Video Package
1st Place – Jacob Zajkowski, Cornell University
Tie
1st Place – McKenna Breeding, Oklahoma State University
2nd – Hally Frandrup and Louisa Smith, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
3rd – Taylor McGill & Samantha Stamm, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Haley Dinterman and Phalen Cary, Oklahoma State University
Audio Advertisement
1st Place – Gretchen Wylie, Texas A&M University
Audio Package
1st Place – Addison Stoddard, Utah State University
Short Video Package
1st Place – Karli Schwerdtfeger & Brilee Payne, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Laura Wuebker & Karlee Shiery, Oklahoma State University
Video Advertisement Package
1st Place – NO SUBMISSIONS
Photography Division:
Animal Photo
1st Place – Taylor Epperson, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Berkeley Carver, Texas Tech University
3rd Place – Jennie Abbott, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
4th Place – Katrina Hageman, Iowa State University
5th Place – Taylor Kelner, Oklahoma State University
Black and White Photo
1st Place – Greyson Murphy, Tarleton State University
2nd Place – Elizabeth Crumm, Kansas State University
3rd Place – Morgan Minnick, Texas Tech University
4th Place – Katrina Hageman, Iowa State University
5th Place – Wyatt Morrow, Wilmington College
Food Photo
1st Place – Brianna Stockwell, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Rylee Smith, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Maddie Weber, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Other Photo
1st Place – Greyson Murphy, Tarleton State University
2nd – Olivia Bellah, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Katrina Hageman, Iowa State University
4th Place – Addison Raber, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Taylor Epperson, Oklahoma State University
People Photo
1st Place – Megan Clark, Iowa State University
2nd Place – Taylor Epperson, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Morgan Minnick, Texas Tech University
4th Place – Haley Holverson, Iowa State University
5th Place – Kara Miner, Oklahoma State University
Photo Series
1st Place – Anna Hendricks, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Shelby Wentz, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
3rd Place – Megan Clark, Iowa State University
4th Place – Nicole Stevens, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Taylor Groat, Oklahoma State University
Plant Photo
1st Place – Hannah Wilcocks, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Abby Bell, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Jill Meador, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Colin McIntyre, Missouri State University
5th Place – Addison Raber, Oklahoma State University
Scenic Photo
1st Place – Landry RobertsTexas Tech University
2nd Place – Greyson Murphy, Tarleton State University
3rd Place – Taylor McGill, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Madison Paden, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Haley Dinterman, Oklahoma State University
Design and Layout Division:
Advertisement
1st Place – Kiersten Bourquin, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Sutton Cartmell, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Samantha Bennett, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Chyann Emerson, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Griffin Behrens, Oklahoma State University
Infographic
1st Place – Parker Litterick, Iowa State University
2nd Place – Kait Godwin, Oklahoma State University
Logo
1st Place – Maddie Dollarhide, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Ashley Euritt, Tru Joi Curtis, Taylor Webb Duhaime and Gwenyth Schowe,
University of Arkansas
3rd Place – LaKacee Lipp, South Dakota State University
4th Place – Kelsey Dowdle, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Jill Meador, Oklahoma State University
Page Layout
1st Place – Makayla Craig, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Brianna Stockwell, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Rylee Smith, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Karstyn Cantrell and Taylor McGill, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Olivia Bellah, Oklahoma State University
Poster or Flyer
1st Place – Kaitlyn Broughton, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Kristin Smith, South Dakota State University
3rd Place – Wyatt Morrow, Wilmington College
Web Design
1st Place – Addison Raber, Oklahoma State University
2nd Place – Cassady Craddock, Oklahoma State University
Blog
1st – Whitnie Yoder, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Public Relations Division:
Press/News Release
1st Place – Gretchen Wylie, Texas A&M University
Public Relations Campaign
1st Place – Tru Joi Curtis, Taylor Webb Duhaime, Gwenyth Schowe, Ashley Euritt, University of Arkansas
2nd Place – Abby Helbach, Elena Santiago and Mckenzie Layton; Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Briella Prock, Olivia Bellah and Maddy Nissen, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Oklahoma State University ACT
Public Relations Single Item
1st Place – Allie Herring, Texas Tech University
2nd Place – Griffin Behrens, Oklahoma State University
3rd Place – Hannah Wilcocks, Oklahoma State University
4th Place – Cade Claycomb, Oklahoma State University
5th Place – Bella Bowen, Oklahoma State University
Single Social Media Post
1st Place – Chloe Rogers, California Polytechnic State University
Social Media Campaign
1st Taylor McGill, Oklahoma State University
Division Awards of Excellence:
Sullin’s Writing Award of Excellence – Maci Guay, Texas A&M University
Design and Layout Award of Excellence – Makayla Craig, Oklahoma State University
Photography Award of Excellence – Greyson Murphy, Tarleton State University
Electronic Media Award of Excellence – Gretchen Wylie, Texas A&M University
Public Relations Award of Excellence – Taylor McGill, Oklahoma State University
Publications Award of Excellence – Molly Freese, Iowa State University
National ACT “Of the Year” Awards
2025 ACT Honored Professional: KC Sheperd, Radio Host and Director of Farm and Ranch Programming at the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2025 ACT Distinguished Member of the Year: Maci Carter, Oklahoma State University
2025 ACT Honored Chapter Adviser: Dr. Courtney Meyers, Texas Tech University & Kenna Sandberg, Oklahoma State University
Chapter of the Year Awards:
Educational Activities: Oklahoma State University
Social Activities: South Dakota State University
Leadership: Oklahoma State University
Fundraising: Oklahoma State University
Member Recruitment and Retention: Utah State University & South Dakota State University
Community Service: Oklahoma State University
Overall Chapter of the Year: Oklahoma State University
