It All Started with a Dream: The Journey from Starting Wilmington College ACT to National ACT Vice President
- Wyatt Morrow
- Oct 14
- 8 min read
What started as a dream to build an Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) chapter at Wilmington College has grown into experiences, friendships, and opportunities I never imagined. In April of 2024, our ACT chapter here at Wilmington College was kick-started and we hit the ground running as soon as classes started last fall. Three of our members got to lead the Night for Young Professionals event here on campus that October and continued that again this year. In January, six members got to attend the National ACT Professional Development Conference (PDC) in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The members in attendance to the 2025 PDC were Alysa Pringle, Kari Carter, Katie Larrimore, Hannah Smith-Moore, Holly Barga, and myself.
Once we arrived at the conference kickoff, we were greeted with open arms by Oklahoma State University ACT. The opening night concluded with an ice breaker game where the members were broken up into small groups and had to find commonalities between themselves and other ACT members across the nation. The other chapters in attendance were: Oklahoma State University, California Polytechnic State University, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, Texas A&M University, Tarleton State University, Texas Tech University, and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
For the first day of sessions, the members started with a welcome to introduce some of the session speakers. We also heard from the National ACT Adviser, Taylor Kennedy Apple, about upcoming national opportunities that members may be interested in that they could talk to the national officers and other members that have taken part in these opportunities.
Lessons learned from the first day were ones of networking, understanding our unique personalities in a team setting, as well as specializations within the agricultural communications sector that spark our interests. The industry tour at Eskimo Joe’s Promotional Products Group, also gave such great insight on the manufacturing side of the industry. During the tour, members saw products being made for The Pioneer Woman and many local businesses.
The Woodchuck, an axe throwing venue, gave great opportunities for members to network and get to know each other. Many of the members from Wilmington College learned about how to apply for national office, upcoming events, and resources to use for their chapter. During this time, members also learned about the upcoming National ACT contest where members can submit pieces in areas of writing, design, photography, electronic media, and public relations.
To start off day 2 of PDC, officers led breakout sessions to give resources that can help the chapters in attendance. Topics for the breakout sessions included: club management, event planning, fundraising, member retention and recruitment, and engaging social media content. Following the breakout sessions, members attended the next few sessions before the National ACT Business Meeting. To close the rest of the general conference activities, members attended the graduate school fair where they learned about opportunities post-undergrad through the college in attendance.
That evening, at the Gala Dinner, the attendees had the chance to reflect on their time during the conference held at Oklahoma State University. Recognized again were the students and faculty who played a key role in shaping the success of the conference. The keynote speaker of the Gala Dinner was Amara Jackson who served as the 2023-2024 National FFA President. Amara, a current student at Oklahoma State University gave many great pieces of advice. But one that stuck out most to the members was, “[f]ind the people that pour into you and find how you can pour into them.”
This conference was instrumental in bringing ideas back to our own chapter as well as inspiring myself to consider running for National ACT office. The rest of that spring semester, I began reaching out to members of the past National ACT officer team to gain insight on the process. By June, my flight and hotel were booked for the 2025 Agricultural Media Summit (AMS) in Rogers, Arkansas. I was a little intimidated flying by myself for the first time, but once I arrived at my hotel, I was ready for the next few days about making connections and learning how to grow my skillset in agricultural communications.
Even though I was physically on my own, in truth, I wasn’t alone. I was surrounded by ACT friends I met at PDC, the National ACT Officers, and some familiar faces from Ohio: Maci Carter, Jake Zajkowski, and Morgan Anderson. That first day, we got to engage with other students from across the country, finding out our perceptions of agricultural literacy as well as an fun-filled evening at Top Golf.
The next day of AMS, I headed to the conference center, and was immediately greeted with an engaging keynote speech and some fiddle music. Yes, you read that right, fiddle music. Sean Dietrich, or as he’s better known, “Sean of the South”, took us through his journey of becoming a renowned writer. The rest of the day, I attended sessions about leadership theory, writing, and spent the evening with students from Iowa State University and South Dakota State University.
The next morning, everything was starting to feel real. I woke up with butterflies in my stomach, because in just an hour or so, I would be giving my speech in front of students from across the nation who held my next chapter in their hands. Once I got to the conference center, I just kept reciting one line from my speech in my head: “Everything happens for a reason”. This was what I kept telling myself was my reason for everything that led me to this point.
My speech was after the Critique and Contest award ceremony, in which I received 3rd in Poster/Flyer Design and 5th in Black and White Photography in the nation. After all the awards were handed out, my heart sank to my stomach as I was the first one called up to run for National ACT Vice President. The other two candidates stepped into the hall while I gave my speech. After I stepped into the hall, I waited until the others were finished. Then, while we waited the nerves were getting to me.
They opened the door and I knew whatever I was about to hear would be for a reason. That’s when outgoing National ACT President, Andrew Angulo announced my name as the next National ACT Vice President.
All of the hard work, heartache, and opportunities that didn’t happen prepared me for this moment and this opportunity to lead. I hugged the other candidates and watched as these friends I had made in this short period of time cheered me on into this next chapter. The remainder of the last day was spent connecting with my teammates Emma, LaKacee, Lydia, and Katrina, as well as industry leaders. I knew whatever happened next in this journey, I would have a great team by my side.
This all led me to a few weeks ago, in mid-September, where me and my teammates headed out to Stillwater, Oklahoma. I was excited for a weekend filled with more opportunity, growth, and time to connect with my team and our Executive Advisor, Taylor Apple from Texas A&M University and our Executive Treasurer, Dr. Shelly Legg from Oklahoma State University. The first night, our team got to connect with the Oklahoma State University ACT officer team and faculty with a shrimp boil.
Our first full day in Oklahoma started out with an hour road trip to Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Our first stop was at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. I’m sure you’ve seen her on the Food Network or some of her products in your local stores. We even checked out her bakery and explored other local shops such as Osage Outfitters, Salt Creek, and The Buckin’ Flamingo. I have never seen so much pearl and turquoise jewelry in my life!
Our tour guide throughout our time in Pawhuska was Kaci Jo Walker, an alumni of Oklahoma State University. She grew up in Pawhuska and her husband, Blake, works on the Drummond Ranch. You may recognize that as the last name of The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. However, they have a big family that ranches all around Pawhuska. Kaci’s husband works for Jack Drummond, a cousin of Ree.
While eating some beef that was raised on the ranch, we got to hear about their family history. As someone who doesn’t come from a ranching background, but instead a farming background, I didn’t realize how they differ, and trust me they do. Their land the cattle graze on stretched as far as the eye could see, and that wasn’t even half of it! The sky was the most beautiful shade of blue and I was in awe over the vastness that Oklahoma ranching has to offer.
Once we headed back to Stillwater, we got to attend an Oklahoma State University football game. I got to see many more friends I’ve gotten to know throughout the years. Our last full day was strictly business. We started our morning in the OSU Botanical Gardens taking headshots and recording promotional content for the year. Once we made it to campus and took a few more pictures, it was time to dive in.
We got trained in parliamentary procedure, discussed business for the upcoming year, and planned some more things all to be revealed in time. Our dinner for the evening was at Smokin’ Joe’s, a fantastic barbecue restaurant. I am extremely grateful for the memories me and my teammates got to make as we prepare to lead students in agricultural communications this year.
A few upcoming opportunities through National ACT:
All dues must be submitted by October 31st
The 2026 PDC will be held at Texas A&M University, January 15-18, 2026
Submissions for Critique and Contest will open in the spring
AMS 2026 will be held in Saint Louis, Missouri July 19-21
Make sure to follow us on Instagram: @national_act and on Facebook: National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow to hear about many more exciting things our team has to offer to you this year. For updates about Wilmington College ACT, check out our Instagram: @wc.act and our Facebook: Wilmington College ACT for upcoming events and meeting dates.
As Dolly Parton famously said, “[i]f your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are an excellent leader.” I believe in leading with heart, lifting others up, and planting seeds that will grow far beyond my own story. Here’s to what comes next.
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