OFB’s Corporate Communications/Public Relations department recently welcomed a new addition to its staff. Dustin Mielke assumed the role of Coordinator of Media Relations June 5.
Mielke is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and a minor in agricultural economics. Mielke is originally from Conrad, Mont., where his grandparents operate a wheat, barley and polled Hereford cattle farm and ranch.
“I enjoyed spending time on their farm, which is where I learned to love farming and agriculture,” he said. “As I grew up, I knew I wanted to be involved in agriculture in some way while helping farmers and ranchers. Ag communications seemed to be a great way to integrate my interests in writing and broadcasting with my love for agriculture.”
Mielke also said his experience on a custom harvesting crew when he was younger gave him a national perspective of agriculture and reinvigorated his excitement for involvement in the agricultural industry.
As Multi-Media Producer and Writer, Mielke’s responsibilities will include conducting interviews, shooting video and editing radio and television programs; and writing feature stories and press releases. In addition, Mielke will coordinate the OFB Expo trade show at the OFB state convention and assist with updates and maintenance of the OFB Press Pass Web site.
During his collegiate career, Mielke was an active member of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT), the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) and Alpha Zeta, an agricultural honor fraternity. He is the 2004 Recipient of the Glenn Kummerow memorial scholarship from NAFB, and a radio package he produced earned him top honors in the 2005 National ACT Critique Contest.
Mielke said he is looking forward to meeting and helping OFB members throughout the state, and he anticipates this will be his favorite part of his job.
“I knew Farm Bureau was an organization that provides great support and benefits to its members, and I thought the organization would be a great way for me to help Oklahomans in production agriculture,” said Mielke. “Agriculture is such a great industry because of the people, and I am excited about meeting the people who make agriculture what it is.”
