Michelle Rook has been named the 2025 Recipient of the South Dakota State University Friend of the Beef Industry award for her contributions to the South Dakota beef industry. Currently the National News and Market Reporter for Farm Journal, Rook has spent her career covering the beef industry, and South Dakota agriculture in general.
“I am honored to be recognized as a friend of the beef industry and humbled since there are so many people that deserve this award,” Rook, a native of Clear Lake, SD said. “I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to report the news and markets that are important to cattle producers, tell their stories and at the same time help promote the importance of the beef industry to the public.”
Rook is considered to be one of the top farm broadcasters in the country. She produces daily market and news broadcasts on AgDay, Farm Journal’s nationally syndicated daily television program. Topics of these shows include cash cattle updates, futures prices and market analysis to provide producers with the information they need to make management decisions. She also hosts a longer format version of these market reports on her Markets Now podcast.
Prior to joining Farm Journal, Rook served as farm director at WNAX Radio in Yankton, where she carved out her market niche and broadcast nearly 30 daily market and ag news reports to the station’s listeners. Rook has received numerous awards for her work including being named the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Farm Broadcaster of the Year in 2008 and received the South Dakota Governor’s Ag Ambassador Award in 2016. In addition to her full-time job Rook also produces consumer-facing educational news pieces for a variety of commodity organizations, including the South Dakota Beef Industry Council.
Source : sdstate.edu