The range and depth of sessions lined up for Ag Media Summit 2026 are designed to equip attendees with the skills and ideas they need to succeed in a rapidly changing communications landscape. The 27th annual summit runs July 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, with registration online at www.agmediasummit.com.
People in every corner of our industry are being required to use more videos, photography and digital storytelling as part of their jobs,” says Pam Caraway, AMS 2026 chair and Farm Futures executive editor. “In addition to our newsmaker and traditional writing and photography sessions, this year’s training includes sessions in video creation and editing, Adobe Photoshop and Canva graphic design.”
Caraway emphasizes the value AMS attendees receive by combining such nuts-and-bolts sessions with industry networking and newsgathering at the summit. For example, the presenter conducting the two deep-dive Photoshop sessions, Khara Plicantic, also teaches at the annual CreativePro Week, where registration for a two-day pass is three times the cost of the total AMS registration.
Anne Kimmey, AMS 2026 programming co-chair and principal of Cultivate Agency, says this year’s program “reflects the fast-changing communications landscape while staying grounded in the relationships, trust and storytelling that define our industry. From strategy and writing to sessions about artificial intelligence, leadership and audience engagement, we want every attendee to leave with ideas they can immediately apply in their work.”
As previously announced, the keynote speaker Monday morning, July 20, is author and inspiring ag communicator Aaron Putze, chief officer for brand management and engagement at the Iowa Soybean Association. His topic: “Grit. Growth. Gratitude. Leading with Heart in Ag Media.”
Other program highlights, listed in more detail online, include:
- Newsmaker Panel general sessions featuring farmers and hot topics
- Interviewing, writing and editing breakout sessions
- Breakout sessions on newer tools such as AI, shooting photos and video with mobile phones, optimizing the use of social media
- How to analyze and use audience data, SEO and more
- Association business meetings and awards ceremonies.
As is tradition, AMS opens with the Famous Welcome Party on Sunday evening, July 19, where the 2026 theme is to come dressed as one’s answer to “What is Your Superpower?”
AMS is hosted by the Agricultural Communicators Network and the Livestock Publications Council, with support from the Ag Media Council. Conference activities at the Hyatt Regency run from Sunday evening through late Tuesday afternoon, followed by the optional post-AMS tour day on Wednesday, July 22. The tour includes Gateway Arch National Park; ADM’s grain barge facility on the Mississippi River; lunch and tour at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery; and an on-farm visit, videography educational session and supper at Eckert Country Farm, Belleville, Illinois.
The top-quality programming at AMS is made possible by our generous sponsors, including Bayer, the United Soybean Board, Corteva, National Pork Producers Council, New Holland, Slate Group, Syngenta, John Deere, USDA NIFA and more,” Caraway says. The AMS Info Expo features displays and interview opportunities from the sponsoring companies and associations. AMS gives special thanks for speaker support to the Professional Improvement Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with the Ag Communicators Network.
Go to www.agmediasummit.com by June 25 to register online for AMS at the regular rate. A higher late rate applies when registering online starting June 26 and when registering onsite. For hotel information and to book lodging, go to www.agmediasummit.com/hotel-info. The hotel conference rate for the AMS block is in effect until June 25.
The Ag Communicators Network is the premier professional organization for communicators across the spectrum of agricultural media – from editors, writers and photojournalists to designers and public relations professionals.
Livestock Publications Council is an international organization serving the dynamic livestock communications industry. Members of LPC represent livestock publications as publication members, allied industry as service members, and student members.
The SIIA AM&P Network Ag Media Council’s mission is to increase the value of its media offerings for the agri-media and marketer community. The overarching goal: to enhance business growth, industry knowledge and best practices for its audiences and marketing professionals serving the global agricultural industry.
For more information, please visit: https://www.agmediasummit.com/
