Event Planning
I have had the privilege to lead the planning of two national events! Below is more information about each event and the results!
Professional Development Conference -
Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
Each year, one National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow chapter is selected to host the National Professional Development Conference. At the 2024 Agricultural Media Summit, I advocated for Oklahoma State University to serve as the 2025 host. Following the national vote, Oklahoma State University was selected, and I was named the 2025 PDC Chair by our chapter.
The Planning
From building the budget and creating a communications plan to designing materials, booking spaces, securing speakers, organizing sponsors, and managing every detail in between, the planning was handled by my advisor and me. No detail was overlooked.
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To keep the process organized and on track, I developed a comprehensive Excel planning ledger with 15 sheets accessible to the full team. In addition to tracking registration, scheduling, budgeting, sponsorships, and speaker details, the ledger served as a working timeline that outlined each task well in advance, ensuring every detail was completed in time for a successful conference.
The Outcome
From January 16–19, 2025, Oklahoma State University hosted more than 90 students from 10 universities and over 30 industry professionals for a dynamic weekend focused on student growth, networking, and building communication skills “the Cowboy way.” The conference was fully funded prior to kickoff, and strategic donation and sponsorship efforts generated more than $10,000 in profit to support future chapter initiatives. As the largest National ACT Professional Development Conference to date, this event set a new standard for the organization and the planning resources our team developed are now being used as a reference for the 2026 conference.
Materials
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See & Spray Customer Focus Event -
Farm Progress Show 2024
I supported a customer-focused event at the 2024 Farm Progress Show promoting John Deere’s See & Spray™ technology, leveraging customer testimonials to engage and educate target customers. My role centered on highlighting real-world customer experiences to reinforce the value of the technology and its business model.
The Planning
While the scope and objectives of the event were outlined at the start of my internship, I was responsible for bringing the experience to life. I spent several weeks developing a deep understanding of John Deere’s See & Spray™ technology, analyzing customer sentiment, identifying common adoption barriers, and reviewing positive customer feedback shared online. To further strengthen my perspective, I attended a John Deere Influencer Day to learn how brands collaborate with influencers and participated in a See & Spray–focused video shoot at a Kansas cooperative to better understand how customer relationships can be leveraged to promote products authentically.
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With a strong understanding of the technology’s key features, benefits, and challenges, I worked closely with sales directors to identify customers who were enthusiastic users of See & Spray and strong representatives of the John Deere brand. In collaboration with regional sales representatives, we also targeted specific customer segments to ensure the right audience was captured for the event.
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From there, I managed the remaining event logistics, including catering, hotel accommodations, registration platforms, promotional materials, and transportation details. In just three months, the event was planned and successfully executed.
The Outcome
On August 27, 2024, John Deere hosted a customer panel during an after-hours, customer-focused event at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. Five customers shared the value of See & Spray™ technology from the farmer’s perspective with an audience of approximately 40 attendees, along with several John Deere employees. The private event featured exclusive giveaways, food and beverages, and networking opportunities.
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