National ACT Membership Benefits
More than a membership. A place to connect, grow, and get involved.
National ACT membership gives you opportunities to build your skills, connect with people across the agricultural communications industry, and get your work in front of others. The more you put into ACT, the more you can get out of it.
Professional Development & Networking
Connect with ACT members, industry professionals, and faculty from across the country through national events, professional development opportunities, and networking experiences.
National Events
Members have the opportunity to participate in two National ACT business meetings each year, including meetings held at Ag Media Summit and the National ACT Professional Development Conference.
Photography Contest
Put your photography skills to work in the National ACT Monthly Photography Contest. Members can submit their work throughout the year for a chance to earn cash prizes and national recognition each month.
Critique & Contest
Showcase your communications work in the annual National ACT Critique & Contest. With six divisions and 28 categories, there are opportunities for all kinds of agricultural communications work, plus professional feedback to help you grow.
ACT Connect
Have a question, need advice, want to brainstorm an idea, or just want to meet someone from National ACT? ACT Connect gives members and chapters the opportunity to connect directly with a National ACT officer.
National Representative Program
Get more involved with National ACT through the National ACT Representative Program, designed to give members opportunities to connect, contribute, and help strengthen ACT chapters across the country.
Recognition
Get recognized for the work you are doing in agricultural communications. National ACT recognizes outstanding contributions from members, alumni, professionals, and chapter advisers each year.
Internships & Scholarships
Find internships, scholarships, and other professional opportunities through the National ACT website and social media. We share opportunities and provide direct links to help you find and apply for them.
Partner Opportunities
Take advantage of special rates, opportunities, and professional development resources offered through National ACT’s partner organizations.
Chapter Funding
Active ACT chapters can apply for Jim Evans Professional Development Funding to help support professional development opportunities for their members.
Agricultural Communication Organizations
You can join many professional agricultural communication organizations as a student, taking advantage of scholarships, internships, professional development, and mentoring. Learn more about the agricultural communications profession by exploring these professional organizations.
- Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences (ACE): Communication professionals working in universities, government agencies, and research organizations in the public and private sectors.
- Agricultural Communicators Network: Agricultural editors, writers, and photojournalists.
- Agricultural Relations Council (ARC): Professionals specializing in public relations and public affairs serving the agricultural and food and fiber industries.
- American Horse Publications (AHP): Communication professionals in the equine publishing industry.
- Association of Food Journalists: A networking system to encourage communication among food journalists who plan and write food copy for news media.
- Cooperative Communicators Association: Communication professionals employed in cooperatives.
- International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ): Professional association for agricultural journalists in 29 countries.
- Livestock Publications Council (LPC): Communication professionals in the livestock publishing industry.
- National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA): Communication and marketing professionals in agricultural marketing.
- National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB): Communication professionals at farm broadcast stations and networks and the agri-marketing community of companies and agencies.
- National Association of Science Writers (NASW): Forum to promote good science writing through all media normally devoted to informing the public.
- North American Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ): Journalists in North America who report or edit agricultural news for newspapers, magazines, and syndicated services and are independent of agricultural organizations and businesses.
- Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ): The site for this professional organization provides news, events, and useful links.
- Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA): Communication professionals involved in green industry communications.
- Center for Environmental Journalism: Includes news, research, and resources section. Maintained at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
- Communication Officers of State Departments of Agriculture (COSDA): National association of information officers within U.S. state departments of agriculture.