Farm and Dairy writers win national, state awards

SALEM, Ohio — Farm and Dairy writers won five awards in this year’s Ohio’s Best Journalism Competition and the National Newspaper Association news competition.

In the NNA contest, reporter Chris Kick received first place in the Best Agricultural Story, daily and non-daily division, circulation 6,000 or more, for his story Out of sight, out of mind: Solar power makes sense on some farms.

It was published Dec. 5, 2013, and details how several Ohio farmers were using solar installations on their farms. The judges’ comments included, “This is a both a great story for other farmers but also for the general public. It was well told and very interesting.”

He also won honorable mention honors in the Best Feature Story category, non-daily division, circulation 15,000 or more, for Finding forgiveness: Abused as child, local man says only way forward is to forgive, let go of past, published in January 2013.

Editor Susan Crowell won first place in the Best Serious Column, daily and non-daily division, circulation 12,000 or more, for a tribute written after the death of her mother, I aim to be my mother’s daughter.

Judges’ comments included, “Lovely, thoughtful from the opening sentence to the powerful closing one.”

Crowell also won honorable mention for her feature story, More than s’mores: Teens turn off technology during forestry and wildlife camp.

There were 1,862 entries in the Better Newspaper Contest, according to NNA Contests and Awards Committee Chair Jeff Farren, president and publisher of Kendall County Record Newspapers in Yorkville, Ill. Award winners will be recognized during the National Newspaper Association’s annual meeting Oct. 4 in San Antonio, Texas.

Ohio contest

Kick also won second place for best trade report in the the 2014 Ohio’s Best Journalism Competition, presented collaboratively by the Society of Professional Journalists chapters in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.

The overall contest drew 570 total entries for work done in 2013.