Three ACEL alumni named to AgGrad’s 30 Under 30

April 29, 2020

Three alumni of the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) at Ohio State have been named as winners of the 2020 AgGrad 30 Under 30 Awards. Dr. Brooke Beam ’12, ’14 M.S., ’17 Ph.D., Hannah Thompson-Weeman ’11, ’12 M.S. and Jordan Bonham Rasmussen ’16 were three of 30 national award recipients. 

Eighteen judges selected winners from peer and self-nominations based on contributions to agriculture, community, strength of innovation and significance of accomplishments. Recipients were placed in six industry categories: production, innovation and technology, entrepreneurship, education and advocacy, agribusiness and sustainability/food security. 

“As a department, we are very excited for three of our alumni to have made this national list,” said Dr. Scott Scheer, professor and interim chair of ACEL. “Brooke, Hannah and Jordan were all very active in student organizations and internship experiences, as well as promoting the agriculture industry as students at Ohio State, so it is no surprise they continue to have a positive impact in their current careers.”

Beam was selected as a recipient in the production category. She is the agricultural and natural resources extension educator for Ohio State Extension, Highland County in Hillsboror, Ohio and earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in agricultural communication from Ohio State.

Thompson-Weeman was a recipient in the education and advocacy category. She is the vice president of communication for Animal Ag Alliance is Arlington, Virginia and holds a B.S. and M.S. in agricultural communication from Ohio State.

Rasmussen was selected in the agribusiness category. She is a farm marketer for Cargill in Albion, Nebraska and graduated with a B.S. in agricultural communication in 2016.

This awards program was founded by AgGradeto show the future of agriculture is bright and aims at rewarding those making the extra effort to move the agriculture industry forward.

“These 30 individuals are at the forefront of agriculture and will one day be the leaders in agribusiness, innovation and technology, education and advocacy, entrepreneurship, sustainability and production,” says AgGrad Founder Tim Hammerich in a news release.

ACEL prepares communicators, educators and leaders in the food, agricultural, and environmental sciences to integrate research-based learning, practice and engagement, in ways that will advance positive changes that strengthen individuals, families and communities. For more information on the academic programs and research available in ACEL, or to donate to student scholarships, please visit acel.osu.edu.

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