Friedrichsen assumes managing editor’s role

W.D. Hoard & Sons Company is pleased to announce that Amber Friedrichsen has been named managing editor of Hay & Forage Grower magazine and its various digital platforms, including eHay Weekly. Many of our readers will recognize her byline as she served as the magazine’s summer editorial intern in 2021 and 2022 and has been a full-time associate editor since May 2023.

Friedrichsen becomes the fourth managing editor of Hay & Forage Grower, which had its first issue published in March 1986. She graduated from Iowa State University in May 2023 with a double major in agricultural communication and agronomy. As a graduating senior, Friedrichsen was honored with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council Academic Achievement Award.

“I’ve gained valuable experience as an editorial intern and associate editor for Hay & Forage Grower the past few years,” Friedrichsen said. “I’ve had the opportunity to visit with farmers and industry leaders from across the U.S., and I look forward to continuing the high standard of forage industry coverage expected from our publications. I enjoy sharing the informative and inspiring stories our farmers and ranchers have to tell along with providing cutting-edge research being done within our industry.”

In 2023, Friedrichsen was awarded the “Story of the Year” award by the Agricultural Communicators Network, a national organization made up of her peers in the agricultural journalism industry.

Friedrichsen grew up and worked on her family’s diversified crop and livestock farm in eastern Iowa near Clinton. While at Iowa State, she served as president for the school’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow chapter. Friedrichsen participated in two college-sponsored agriculture study abroad trips to Costa Rica and the United Arab Emirates.

Beginning in January 2020, Friedrichsen served as a student writer for Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications Service. She also wrote for the Iowa State Daily, the university’s newspaper.

“It’s not often that you have the opportunity to pick your replacement,” said Mike Rankin, the previous managing editor for nearly 10 years. “Friedrichsen is a talented journalist who is more than qualified to assume the leadership role as I step back into a part-time senior editor position.”

Friedrichsen can be reached at amberf@hayandforage.com.