Story by Jordan Pieschl, senior (ACJ)
Stacy Mayo, agricultural communications and journalism (’07), has used her talents in advertising and public relations to help agribusinesses around the nation to grow. After spending a few years in Chicago and Milwaukee, her career brought her back to Kansas to serve as the state’s agricultural trademark program director at the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
As director of the program, From the Land of Kansas, Mayo works to brand Kansas agricultural products as safe and wholesome. In addition, her efforts support Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to achieve their business goals.
“I enjoy being able to take my marketing and communications background and help serve as an extension of their business. I’m able to have conversations with them and challenge them to think differently as an outsider who understands the goals they share with me,” Mayo says.
As the third communications major in her family, Mayo knew, after first exploring interests, that she too belonged in communications.
“I couldn’t deny that communications is my passion and where my heart lies,” she says. “I love that as agricultural communicators, we are able to tell the story of agriculture.”
She attributes many of the skills she uses on a daily basis to her experiences at K-State, frequently noting the value of developing problem-solving skills, learning to critique personal work and accept feedback from others, and becoming part of the close network of agricultural communicators.
Prior to her current role, Mayo worked in public relations at both Rhea + Kaiser and Bader Rutter, working with agribusinesses such as Bayer CropScience and Dow AgroSciences. Through her experiences in both college and her career, she continues to appreciate her role as an advocate for those involved in all sectors of the food, farming and fuel industry.
“Agriculture will always be my home,” she says.
(Stayo Mayo (’07) is pictured above. Her sister, Wendy (Mayo) Hushon (’05) was featured in the November 2014 issue of the alumni newsletter. Their sister Megan (Mayo) Ryan (’02) majored in human ecology and mass communications.)
