May 2, 2013 — Josie Dallam, a freshman majoring in Life Sciences Communication, is the first recipient of the Frank Lessiter Ag Media Scholarship, an annual award that recognizes a Univ. of Wisconsin Agricultural and Life Sciences student pursuing  a career in agricultural trade media. She was awarded the scholarship this week at the Life Sciences Department’s annual Recognition Reception at Union South in Madison.

Josie Dallam (ctr), University of Wisconsin student, receives the first-ever Frank Lessiter Ag Media Scholarship from Kim Schmidt (l), managing editor/intern coordinator, and Mike Lessiter, president.

Ms. Dallam comes from a ninth-generation family farm in Bel Air, Maryland. Pursuing a career in ag communications, she is returning to Maryland this summer to assist in the family dairy operation.

Funded by Lessiter Publications Inc., Brookfield, Wis., the scholarship honors company founder Frank Lessiter, an editor who started the company with his wife, Pam, in 1981. Today, Lessiter Publications’ Ag Properties include Farm Equipment, No-Till Farmer, Ag Equipment Intelligence, Rural Lifestyle Dealer, Precision Farming Dealer, Farm Catalog, American Farriers Journal and an array of in-person events and electronic properties.

About the Department of Life Sciences Communication (LSC): The LSC Department at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral education in science communication.  An LSC degree prepares students for professional and academic careers related to communicating health, environmental, agricultural and biological sciences in an era of rapid technology change and media convergence. For more information, visit www.lsc.wisc.edu