Special Report

University of IL student receives Orion Samuelson Scholarship

The 2018 Orion Samuelson Scholarship, sponsored by CME Group, was awarded to Christy Allen of Arthur, Illinois during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City, MO.

“I think the role for agriculture communicators today is perhaps more important than it has ever been as the disconnect between consumers and producers is larger than it has been. So, if I personally can serve even just a little bit in bridging that gap and telling the agriculture story to people who aren’t familiar with it, then I’ll consider that a success.”

Allen is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign where she will graduate in May of 2019. She studies agriculture communications with a journalism concentration and a minor in food and agribusiness management.

“I love the people. I think that is what makes the agriculture industry what it is. I knew I wanted to be a part of that group and have never looked back.”

Throughout her college career, Allen has been active in Collegiate Farm Bureau, Agriculture Future of America and 4-H House Cooperative Sorority.

“It’s all about the experience. It’s getting out there and doing it. You can learn the skills in the classroom, but then it’s about applying them in real world situations and that is what organizations at the college level have allowed me to do.”

Allen has worked as a farm broadcasting intern for WYXY Classic, a marketing and hospitality intern for Merumalia Wine Resort in Rome, Italy and a marketing communications intern for Pioneer.

She is the daughter of Dave and Cathy Allen and has accepted a position as an associate territory manager for Corteva Agriscience.

Audio: Interview with Christy Allen