Farm and Dairy writers, columnists win awards

ABOVE (clockwise from upper left): Kymberly Foster Seabolt; Chris Kick; Susan Crowell, Kristy Foster

SALEM, Ohio — Farm and Dairy writers and contributing columnist Kymberly Foster Seabolt have won seven awards in this year’s Ohio Society of Professional Journalists and National Newspaper Association news competitions.

In the NNA’s 2012 Better Newspaper Contest:

— Reporter Kristy Foster won second place for Best Feature Story, nondaily division, circulation of 15,000 or more, for her story, A Genetic Matchmaker of Sorts.

— Kristy Foster also earned an honorable mention, Best Agricultural Story, daily and nondaily division, circulation 6,000 or more, for her work in the story: Kenny Farms: Missing Generation Leaves Family With Hole in Heart and Management.

— Contributing columnist Kymberly Foster Seabolt won honorable mention, Best Humorous Column, daily and nondaily division, circulation 8,000 or more, for her column, The First Cut is the Deepest.

Contest Chair Jeff Farren, publisher of the Kendall County Record in Yorkville, Ill., said there were 1,954 entries submitted by 135 member newspapers in 36 states.

Judging was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers and included retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper men and women.

Ohio awards

In the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists’ competition, Farm and Dairy competed in the trade publication division, winning four awards:

— Kristy Foster won the Best Personality Profile division for her story, A Genetic Matchmaker of Sorts.

— Reporter Chris Kick won second place, Best General Story, for his recap of the ethanol industry, Ethanol Still Holds Promise.

— Chris Kick also placed second in the Best Personality Profile division, for By The Numbers: Ramey Bids Farewell.

— Editor Susan Crowell was named Best Trade Columnist in Ohio, for a selection of her column commentaries.