MAY 2025
Now in its fifth year, the UMASH Ag Health and Safety PSA Video Contest continues to bring student creativity and farm safety awareness together.
This unique collaboration between UMASH and Dr. Troy McKay’s Advanced Video Production for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (AECM 4432) course gives students a platform to turn real-world agricultural safety issues into powerful visual messages.
Guided by UMASH’s expertise and Dr. McKay’s mentorship, students channeled their creativity and put their media skills to the test to advocate for a safer and healthier future for agriculture.
Student Ag PSA Video Contest
Producing short, impactful public service announcements (PSAs), students address a range of topics from equipment safety and chemical exposure to mental health and zoonotic disease, helping to raise farm safety awareness within agricultural communities.
Student participants focused on topics like farm equipment safety, rural roadway safety, mental health, and more.
“I liked getting to dive into topics that connected human safety with agriculture and learning how to educate others in that through video media.”
“I liked getting to dive into topics that connected human safety with agriculture and learning how to educate others in that through video media.”
“I got a chance to develop my video production skills while creating a video that will benefit rural communities.”
“I got a chance to develop my video production skills while creating a video that will benefit rural communities.”
2025 Winning PSAs
Two student videos were selected as winners in this year’s PSA contest and will be featured across UMASH communication channels. Each winner received a University of Minnesota bookstore gift card and formal recognition for their contribution to agricultural safety and health.
Rural Roadway Safety
Selena Corona
Selena is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, earning her degree in May 2025 with a double major in Agricultural Communication and Marketing and Animal Science. She recently began her career as a Market Activation Manager at CLUTCH.
From Albany, Minnesota, Selena has been involved in agriculture from a young age, helping her grandpa on his turkey farm and caring for livestock. Working at a horse ranch and on dairy farms led her to become a Princess Kay of the Milky Way Finalist in 2024.
Selena found her love for media production through the combination of creativity and advocacy for agriculture.
I really enjoy media production because it allows my creative brain to flow while also using it as a resource to advocate for agriculture. Something about the creative process in the planning, execution, and editing helps fuel my passion for communication.”
I really enjoy media production because it allows my creative brain to flow while also using it as a resource to advocate for agriculture. Something about the creative process in the planning, execution, and editing helps fuel my passion for communication.”
Selena chose the topic of rural roadway safety due to her personal experiences growing up in a rural area:
Coming from a rural area myself, I’ve seen the situations and reasons why educating others about the importance of rural roadway safety is dire. Those stories inspired me to use my skills to share about this very important topic. I’m so grateful for the work UMASH is doing to help keep more people happy, healthy, and alive by promoting these safety materials!”
Coming from a rural area myself, I’ve seen the situations and reasons why educating others about the importance of rural roadway safety is dire. Those stories inspired me to use my skills to share about this very important topic. I’m so grateful for the work UMASH is doing to help keep more people happy, healthy, and alive by promoting these safety materials!”
Congratulations, Selena!
Mental Health: Stop Racing Thoughts
Lindsey Miller
Lindsey Miller is pursuing a minor in Agricultural Education, Communication, and Marketing at the University of Minnesota. With a passion for video storytelling and plant photography, she works as a Communications Program Assistant for the University of Minnesota Extension, supporting the Horticulture and Fruit and Vegetable teams. Her background in plant science, combined with a deep interest in horticulture and food systems, has naturally led her to explore agricultural communications and media.
For her PSA video project, Lindsey chose to focus on mental health—an area where she saw a powerful opportunity to connect plant science with emotional well-being.
“Researching mental health is one of my favorite hobbies, and I’m always looking for ways to connect it with my plant science background. This course gave me the chance to do just that. It opened up a whole new set of ideas—and helped me feel more confident in combining my interests in a meaningful way.””
“Researching mental health is one of my favorite hobbies, and I’m always looking for ways to connect it with my plant science background. This course gave me the chance to do just that. It opened up a whole new set of ideas—and helped me feel more confident in combining my interests in a meaningful way.””
Lindsey was introduced to UMASH through this project and saw it as a meaningful fit with her current work and interests.
“Before this, I wasn’t aware of UMASH. But the collaboration between Extension and UMASH felt natural—like an important bridge for bringing mental health resources to the farming community.”
“Before this, I wasn’t aware of UMASH. But the collaboration between Extension and UMASH felt natural—like an important bridge for bringing mental health resources to the farming community.”
Congratulations, Lindsey!
Creating a Culture of Ag Safety in Media
UMASH is grateful to collaborate with Dr. Troy McKay and the Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing (AECM) department at the University of Minnesota.
Through their mentorship and guidance, they are promoting experiential learning that blends communication, creativity, and real-world impact in agricultural safety and health.
Thank you to Dr. McKay and the AECM department for your collaboration and dedication to this important work.
