Agweek welcomes South Dakota journalist Ariana Schumacher

Agriculture journalist and enthusiast Ariana Schumacher joined the staff of Agweek this week as a multimedia reporter based out of South Dakota.

Schumacher brings with her a passion and thirst to learn about and tell the story of agriculture.

Schumacher is a 2022 graduate of South Dakota State University, where she double majored in agriculture communications and journalism. She also minored in animal science. While on campus, she worked at SDSU on the Little International , in the cattle feedlot department, working with no-till farming practices at Dakota Lakes Research Farm, conducting some soil science work and even taking photos at weddings in her spare time.

Journalism was not originally the path she thought of taking, but after a required journalism class, she quickly fell in love with the work of telling people’s stories and spreading the word about agriculture practices from producer to consumer.

“Once I really got into the industry I realized the stories that made me the happiest were the ones where I was out on the farm and educating people about agriculture, because I realized a lot of people in our state, even though agriculture is so big, they don’t know a lot about agriculture,” Schumacher said. “I realized I also liked to help educate farmers as much as I could, too. So I am excited to branch out a little more.”

Also during college, Schumacher began her media career at KELOLAND News in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She started as a digital reporter in January 2021 and eventually moved to the morning reporter position in August 2021.

Schumacher has immersed herself in agriculture from a young age. She grew up on her family farm north of Pierre, South Dakota, where her family grew crops.

Contributed photo

“I grew up being actively involved in 4-H and doing as much as I could on our family farm,” Schumacher said.

She looks forward to continuing working in the South Dakota region and hearing from readers and viewers for story tips. She hopes to see farmers out in the field soon.

Agweek staff welcomed her experience in print, digital and TV, which she is already putting to use.

"Ariana has deep ag connections and understanding in South Dakota, and we are so excited to have her join us," said Agweek editor Jenny Schlecht . "Having an experienced reporter with the kind of ag knowledge she has in South Dakota will be a huge benefit to Agweek and its audiences."

The addition of Schumacher ensures even more boots on the ground for our readers in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.

"Ariana's agriculture knowledge, reporting experience and South Dakota roots adds depth to Agweek and AgweekTV's strategic growth and expansion with ag and rural audiences across the upper Midwest,” said Katie Pinke , Agweek and AgweekTV's Publisher/General Manager. “You'll see, watch and read weekly stories from Ariana and we're excited to grow Agweek with her reporting."

Agweek is the premiere multimedia source for timely agriculture news from field to fork in the upper Midwest. Agweek’s ag journalists deliver cross-platform content to more than 425,000 farmers and ranchers across six key agriculture states.