Progressive Publishing is pleased to introduce McKenna Greco, its newest editorial intern for the summer of 2023. In this role, Greco looks forward to writing news articles and feature stories. Originally from Rockaway, New Jersey, where she grew up riding horses and discovering a passion for agriculture, Greco brings a unique perspective to Progressive Forage.
A recent graduate of Rutgers University, Greco studied equine and production animal sciences, as well as technical writing. She spent much of her time at Rutgers working closely with agriculture professors on various projects to support local producers. Greco also served as a supervisor for animal handling and showmanship classes, and on the campus farm, and participated on a livestock judging team. Among her favorite classes were science writing and equine nutrition, both of which prompted her to pursue a career in agricultural communications.
As a tutor for the Rutgers Writing Center, Greco nurtured a passion for scientific writing that led to her pursuit of her technical writing certificate, with the ultimate goal of becoming a scientific writer and agricultural advocate. Her efforts culminated in a research proposal warning of the dangers of the invasive spotted lanternfly to agriculture on the East Coast.
After publication in the student research library, Greco participated in the Undergraduate Research in Writing Conference as a panelist discussing issues in sustainability. From there, she was inspired to seek out every opportunity to hone her agricultural communications skills. “When I first introduce myself and my experience, people tend to be surprised by my decision to pursue agriculture with technical writing,” says Greco. “But, writing and agriculture are two of my greatest passions. Being able to engage with the public and share all that agriculture is with them is both exciting and necessary.”
“I’m excited to have McKenna joining the team this summer,” says Progressive Forage Managing Editor Joy Hendrix. “Her technical writing skills will be an advantage for our magazine through the content she provides, and we hope to provide her with a great experience that lets her expand her portfolio and work toward her goal of advocating for the industry.”
In her senior year, Greco was one of 11 students selected to represent their universities as part of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)’s Next Generation. This group attended NASDA’s annual meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York, attending policy meetings, networking and sharing the perspectives of agriculture students hoping to enter the industry. The conference solidified for Greco the need for strong science communicators in agriculture. It also served as a reminder of the importance of advocating for the needs of producers across the country.
Looking ahead to this internship, Greco adds, “I’m excited. It is such a privilege to be able to advance my skills while expanding my own knowledge and sharing practical information about the industry that feeds us all.” She looks forward to learning from experienced writers and editors during her time with Progressive Forage.
