I’m honored to serve IFAJ as president, and my introduction to the role over the past couple of months has provided me with several great examples of why I am so excited about the chance to support the federation.
The 2024 IFAJ World Congress in Switzerland exceeded even the high expectations of the attendees. The meeting was fun, the farms were beautiful, the schedule was packed with great information, and the spirit of camaraderie raised the energy level throughout the week. The fact that a federal minister and the CEOs of two multinational corporations joined the program spoke to the clout of the Swiss organizing team as well as the importance of agricultural journalists as a link to audiences around the world.
Since then, my ears and email In Box were filling up with discussions on webinars, newsletter articles, materials to promote specializing in agriculture to other journalists, and ways IFAJ can support member guilds around the world. Not every IFAJ member has the time or money to attend a Congress or tour, so we must find creative and engaging ways to bring IFAJ to our members wherever they are. Over the next couple of years, we will be doing more of that than ever.
It’s one thing for me to be excited about what I see in IFAJ. But it’s validating to see enthusiasm among others around me. The Congress organizing committee and E-4-D planners that volunteered to create opportunities for their colleagues. The committee chairs and presenters volunteering to put on webinars. The leaders of national guilds working hard to keep their members engaged.
It has also been gratifying to see the enthusiasm of long-time IFAJ partner Alltech, our Exposure-4-Development sponsors at the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and CropLife International, as well as new friends at Syngenta and East-West Seed. They have each engaged us in productive partnerships built around providing journalists with great information and complete autonomy—relationships built on respect.
In all, I couldn’t have hoped for a better start to my term as president, and I am excited about the many ways we can bring IFAJ benefits to thousands of colleagues worldwide.
Steve Werblow
IFAJ President