SALEM, Ohio — Farm and Dairy Reporter Kristy Foster Seachrist recently received three writing awards for her work.
In the annual Best of Ohio Journalism Awards competition for 2013, sponsored by the Central Ohio, Cincinnati, and Cleveland Pro chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, she placed first in the Best Personality Profile division with Jacob’s story: Dreams and determination.
Her profile of young Jacob Baker charted his path following the devastating auto accident that claimed the life of his mother and left Jacob with little hope of walking again. But his dream of showing dairy cattle was stronger than the odds.
Seachrist also placed second in the Ohio SPJ contest with a feature on a bicentennial farm in Pa.: Manchester Farms: Pennsylvania farm spans 213 years and adapts to grass-fed dairy.
National contest
Seachrist also won accolades for Jacob’s Story in the National Newspaper Association’s 2013 Better Newspaper Contest.
The story won first place in the Best Agricultural Story, daily and nondaily division for newspapers with circulation of 6,000 or more. Judges’ comments included: “Very touching story. Well told and moving. A story of hope for the future.”
There were 1,777 entries in the Better Newspaper Contest.
“We don’t set out to win awards; we just want to share the stories of the farming community around us,” said Editor Susan Crowell. “But Jacob Baker has been inspirational to so many, and that makes this honor for Kristy even more special.”
