Hay & Forage Grower is pleased to announce that Amber Friedrichsen has joined its staff as an associate editor. Many of our readers will recognize her byline as she served as the magazine’s editorial intern the past two years.

Friedrichsen recently graduated from Iowa State University with a double major in agricultural communications and agronomy. As a graduating senior, Friedrichsen was honored with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council Academic Achievement Award.

Amber Friedrichsen

“I’ve gained valuable experience as the editorial intern for Hay & Forage Grower the past two summers, and I look forward to continuing to explore the industry and learn from farmers and researchers as an associate editor,” Friedrichsen said of her new role. “I hope to share knowledge and tell stories that inspire others to keep seeding, harvesting, and grazing forage to meet their operational goals and benefit their growing environments.”

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 August 2019, Friedrichsen served as a student writer for Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications Department. She also wrote for the Iowa State Daily, the university’s newspaper.

“We were extremely fortunate over the past couple of years to have a student intern with the talent and drive that Amber possesses,” said Mike Rankin, managing editor of Hay & Forage Grower. “Now, we are ecstatic that she will assume a full-time editorial position.”

As the editorial intern in 2021 and 2022, Friedrichsen provided content and aided in the production of eHay Weekly. She also made farm visits, attended conferences, wrote numerous feature articles for the magazine, contributed to the photo database, and was involved in posting content to social media and website platforms.

In her role as associate editor, Friedrichsen will continue to provide content for both eHay Weekly and Hay & Forage Grower. She will also assume additional administrative duties and will be an integral voice in planning future magazine content and direction.