New Kid on the Blog

You may have noticed a “New Kid on the Blog” this week and I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Joanna Schroeder and I am part of the agricultural enthusiast team of ZimmComm New Media, also known as Chuck and Cindy Zimmerman. I am pictured here with them (me on the right) in the 2010 Commodity Classic media room.

My background is in public relations and I served as communications director for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council prior to starting my own company, 4R Communications. I am a regular contributor on ZimmComm’s Domestic Fuel and Agwired websites, as well as other sites such as Gas 2.0. I am currently living on a small avocado and citrus farm near Santa Barbara, California and having the opportunity to see agriculture first hand.

While I did not grow up around agriculture, ever since I was young I realized its importance to our nation and the world. We face some very big challenges in the future – challenges that American farmers are already meeting full steam ahead. Nine billion people will need to be fed in the next 30 years at the same time that we need a new energy mix. Our farmers will be able to do both: feed and fuel the world. This is a message that the mainstream media seem to be burying and my role will be helping to make sure that its import stays on the top of peoples’ minds.

I am honored that I will be able to join our readers on the journey to the new Age of Sustainability.