A year of change and growth for machinery editor Karen Jones

When I was asked to write a year-end summary for Successful Farming, I realized that I haven’t properly introduced myself to you, our readers. So without further ado, here’s what you should know about me!

• I’m part of the fourth generation on my family’s central Illinois farm. We raise corn and soybeans. At any given time, I also have a few pigs to fill the freezers and a handful of chickens — once we got used to farm fresh eggs, it was hard to go back. 
  
• My husband is full time on the farm, along with my father and my younger brother. We met at the University of Illinois, where he earned a degree in technical systems management (also known as ag mechanics) and mine in agricultural communications. We have a 10-year-old daughter, who I hope will someday become part of the fifth generation involved with the farm.
  

• I was a 10-year 4-H member (Roanoke Happy Hustlers) and am currently serving as that club’s leader, a family tradition since my grandpa helped start the club years ago. I also earned my American FFA degree and continue to stay involved with FFA alumni activities when I can. I can think of no two other organizations that do a better job of preparing young people today for the future. 
• I always knew I wanted to be involved with agriculture. I spent the first part of my career in a corporate communications role for an agricultural cooperative. When the opportunity arose to join the Successful Farming team, I was excited to expand my skills and share agriculture’s story with even more people!
• For as long as I can remember, my family has been interested in antique tractors and we spend several weekends every summer attending shows. I hope to share more about that in future issues of Ageless Iron Almanac magazine. I also enjoy crafting, especially sewing, even though I hated it as a 4-H member (Sorry Mom! You were right!).

August 2023

I officially started in this role on Aug. 14, and hit the ground running a couple weeks later at a farm show in Decatur, Illinois. I met several of my new co-workers in person for the first time there and attended multiple new product demonstrations and media events, along with cruising the show grounds and checking things out. I enjoyed the chance to catch up with friends from all over and make new connections.

Since I work from my home office in Illinois, I was asked to attend an FMC event at PTI Farm in Pontiac, Illinois — a much closer drive than my colleagues in Des Moines. In true agriculture fashion, one of the other media representatives there was someone from another state who I’ve known for years through a professional organization. It was nice to catch up with him and learn about new technology and research at the farm. 

September 2023

September brought a trip to the Successful Farming home office in Iowa, where I had the chance to meet the rest of the team in person and become official by receiving my company ID badge! While there, I was able to spend a day with Dave Mowitz, who served as machinery editor for years. I am grateful we could spend most of a day together and I tried to soak up as much knowledge from him as possible. 

October 2023

Continuing with the theme of jumping in with both feet, I was assigned my first feature article for the November issue. After talking with Dave, we settled on a topic and I got to work pulling together sources and telling a story about the “death of distance.” Seeing that process come to life from an idea all the way to the printed magazine was awesome and a great learning experience. I may or may not have framed a copy to hang on the wall in my office.

November 2023

November brought some new product events that I’ll share more about in 2024, along with making plans to travel to events like Commodity Classic and the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS). It’ll be my first time at Commodity Classic and my first time at NFMS in more than a decade, and I’m looking forward to both. If you see me walking around, please say hello! 

December 2023

As the year closes out in December, I’m reflecting with gratitude on the last four months and looking ahead to many more opportunities to share stories that matter to you. It’s always exciting in agriculture and I can’t wait to see what the new year has in store.