Article I — Name

The name of this organization shall be Livestock Publications Council

Article II — Purpose

The Livestock Publications Council is a non-profit international organization serving the livestock communications industry through professional development, networking, and student programs—while preserving the foundation of traditional print publications.

In addition, the Livestock Publications Council exists:

• To support publications as they continue telling the livestock industry’s story via print, social, video, and digital media.
• To maintain membership listing of publications and affiliated membership types serving the livestock industry. Membership listings will contain appropriate contact information, along with facts pertaining to the readership, extent and geographical spread of circulation, and the advertising rates of each publication for use of the Membership.
• To disseminate information for members to keep them additionally knowledgeable of matters pertaining to livestock communications enterprises.

 For the purpose of this organization, the term “livestock industry” refers to the production and marketing of beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, poultry used for food production (broilers, laying hens), llamas and ranch/game species such as elk, deer and bison. Excluded from membership are publications for small fur-bearing species and species generally regarded as exotic animals.

Article III — Membership

Membership in this organization shall be international and is categorized by publication, service, and associate membership.

 Publication memberships shall be classified as a traditional publication or digital publication.

1. a) Publication members shall be limited to those magazines, newspapers and other periodicals (published on a regular basis four or more times each year) devoting 50 percent or more of average content to the livestock industry. Traditional publications may operate and publish in digital outlets in addition to a printed publication.
2. b) Digital publication members shall be limited to a digital publisher, a publishing company or an entity that publishes media to the public via specified digital channels devoting 75 percent or more of average content to the livestock industry.

Service memberships are open to those individuals, firms and organizations that service the livestock industry, but do not meet eligibility requirements as publication members.

1. Service members are individuals and organizations that service the livestock industry, but do not meet publication membership requirements.
2. Freelance/contract members are freelance/contract practitioners in the livestock media industry and with a staff of no more than two people (e.g. freelancers/contractor with a virtual assistant.)

Associate Memberships are also open to those individuals, who wish to support LPC, but do not fall into any other membership category.

1. Student Memberships are open to individuals enrolled full-time in a college or institution at the time of membership application. Student members may participate in Council activities but are not voting members and may not hold office.
2. Legacy Memberships are open to individuals who wish to support LPC, but don’t meet eligibility requirements of any other membership category. Legacy members may participate in Council activities but are not voting members and may not hold office. Legacy memberships are not open to anyone who qualifies for another membership category.

Annual dues for each membership are payable on January first of each calendar year. All payments are to be in U.S. dollars. A membership renewal period may be set by LPC leadership.

Modifications to annual membership dues will be initiated as a recommendation from the LPC Board of Directors.

Voting in all regular and special meetings of the Council shall be by each voting member present. Voting members of LPC are entitled to vote in all business affairs and matters affecting the Council not reserved to the Officers of the Executive Committee and/or the Board of Directors of the Council. Each membership shall be entitled to a number of votes based on the membership level. Associate members shall not be entitled to vote.

Article IV — Directors

The LPC Board of Directors will consist of 11 LPC members

Directors shall be elected by the general membership in the annual meeting.

Directors shall be elected for a period of three years. No individual may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms on the LPC Board of Directors, not including time served on the LPC Executive Committee or time served fulfilling an uncompleted term of another director. After term limits are met, individuals must sit out at least one year and then would be eligible for re-election to the LPC Board of Directors.

Once elected, directors are expected to attend all scheduled meetings of the LPC Board of Directors. If a director misses more than one meeting in a year, the Board of Directors has the right to vote to remove the director in question if the circumstances warrant. A simple majority vote can dismiss a director.

If an elected director’s status as an LPC member changes due to a change in employment during his/her term, that person shall be allowed to finish the term, pending board approval. This shall include regular members who become service members, service members who become regular members, or either regular members or service members who become ineligible for membership due to their new employment status. The LPC Board of Directors has the right to vote to remove a director if the circumstances warrant. A simple majority vote can dismiss said director.

If the director chooses not to fulfill the term, the Board of Directors of LPC shall appoint an individual to complete that term in cases where a successor is not provided for in the by-laws.

Article V — Officers

Officers shall be the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Director.

The President, Vice Presidents and Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected by the membership during the annual meeting. Any elected officer who takes office while in good standing with LPC, and complies with all requirements for membership and office, shall be allowed to complete the current term of office if that individual’s status changes during the term if the individual so chooses. If the individual chooses not to fulfill the term of office, the      Board of Directors of LPC shall appoint an individual to complete that term in cases where a successor is not provided for in the by-laws. The LPC Board of Directors has the right to vote to remove an officer if the circumstances warrant. A simple majority vote can dismiss said officer.

The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

The President shall preside at all general meetings and at the meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors. He/she shall appoint committees as necessary and shall carry on all of the business designated by the membership and/or the Board of Directors.

The Vice Presidents shall serve as assistants to the President and, according to rank, in the stead of the President in the absence of the President.

In dual capacity as Secretary-Treasurer, this officer shall keep minutes of all Council general and board meetings, shall record votes taken and shall carry out all other duties designated by the officers and the Board of Directors. As Treasurer, he/she shall supervise Council’s financial affairs, shall make a full financial report annually to the Board and the membership, and shall direct the Executive Director in the maintenance of Council’s accounts and the preparation of bi-annual financial reports to the Board. Authorized signatures on checks and financial documents may be either Secretary-Treasurer or Executive Director.

The Executive Director shall conduct the Council’s office, execute communications efforts, solicit additional members and associate members and carry out the instructions of the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary-Treasurer and Board in furtherance of Council aims and activities. Shall be responsible for all general correspondence and receive and have charge of all Council funds. He/she shall, under the direction of the Secretary-Treasurer, present a bi-annual financial report to the Officers and Directors. Shall, in cooperation with the Secretary- Treasurer, prepare an annual budget to be presented to the Board. The Executive Director also shall be charged with any other financial duties pertaining to Council operation as directed by the Secretary-Treasurer.

Article VI — Executive  Committee

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Council officers and the Immediate Past President. It is empowered to carry out the activities of the Council as directed by the membership and/or the Board of Directors.

Article VII — Meetings

Annual meeting of the Council shall be called by the Officers and Directors for dates and locations established each year by the Executive Committee. Notice of the annual meeting shall be communicated by the Executive Director to all members prior to the meeting. Other special meetings may be called by the Officers and Directors at times and places designated by them.

Members present at a duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Parliamentary procedure shall be adhered to at all meetings as outlined by Roberts Rules of Order.

Article VIII — Amendments

Repeal or alteration of these by-laws may be made either in full or in part by a majority vote of the members present or electronic at an annual meeting or special session called by the Board of Directors.

Bylaws last updated August 2024 by membership vote.

Code of Ethics

I. Preamble — Ethical responsibility has an effect on the public perception of a publication’s credibility. As livestock communications media, allied firms and individuals serving the livestock industry, we are bonded in the Livestock Publications Council for furtherance of professional fellowship as well as common interests and objectives. As members, we recognize our industry and public trust responsibilities, including our moral obligation to respect the enterprises of each other, the subjects and persons written about, the advertisers served, the readers to whom we provide information and the public at large. Therefore, individually and collectively, we subscribe and pledge to uphold standards set forth in this Code of Ethics.

II. Individual Rights — As individuals and with our media, we support and defend the governing documents of our respective countries, being particularly mindful of our individual rights and attendant responsibilities as active participants in the livestock industry and as communications representatives thereof.

III. Objectivity and Accuracy — Our primary goal will be objectivity and accuracy in content, clearly labeling personal opinions as such. Errors of significance will be corrected promptly when called to attention.

IV. Fairness — Respect for the dignity, privacy and rights of all persons will be foremost in our conduct and communications. We will strive for a level of propriety consistent with the standards of our readership. Reporting details serving no useful purpose or harming individuals will be avoided. Should it occur, we would actively seek and publish responses from the persons so impugned. We will work to ensure headlines accurately epitomize accompanying articles. New media should follow the same ethical standards as print publications.

V. Obligations — Livestock publications professionals should serve as communications representatives for the livestock industry and provide information to other members of the industry. Members and their publications shall avoid situations where editorial content is perceived to be more beneficial to advertisers than to readers.

VI. Advertisers — We will not knowingly misrepresent the circulation of our media to advertisers, potential advertisers, their agents or representatives.

VII. Photographers — Altering photos in any way that changes the meaning or structure of the animal is unacceptable, i.e. straightening toplineso r underlines, tightening necklines or otherwise adding to or subtracting from the animal’s natural appearance. Enhancing colors, removing blemishes, and extensive cropping are acceptable for both advertising and editorial photos. Adding objects or people to a photo, flipping photos, and blending multiple photos are acceptable practices for advertising photos only unless identified as a photo illustration.

VIII. Professional Conduct — We recognize the imperativeness of being free of obligation to any interest other than that of our publications, advertisers and the right of our readers to be informed. Therefore, to avoid conflict and jeopardizing trust developed by readers, we will spurn any gifts or favors that — in the minds of reasonable persons — would compromise our responsibilities.

IX. Pledge — We pledge ourselves to abide by and to help enforce this Code of Ethics, as well as to professional disassociation from colleagues who knowingly, willfully and consistently violate the standards set forth.

2024-2025 Board of Directors

2024-2025 Committees

 Ag Media Summit
Chair(s): 
Shelia Grobosky (AMS Steering Committee Chair)
Autumn Fuhrman (AMS Steering Committee)
Shelby Diehm (AMS Steering Committee)
Committee:
Lisa Bryant
Anna Miller
Chel Terrell

Awards/Contests
Chair(s): 
Shelby Diehm
Macey Igo
Committee:
Samantha Albers
Kirby Brincefield
Heather Heater
Casey Hinnant
Anne Kimmey
Kylene Scott
Chel Terrell
Kelli Toledo

Education
Chair(s): 
Jennifer Shike
Angie Denton
Committee:
Makayla Getz
Heather Heater
Casey  Hinnant
Lindsay Kennedy
Rachel Waggie

Engagement
Chair(s):
Kasey Brown
Casey Hinnant
Committee:
Kirby Brincefield
Shelby Diehm
Sarah Gregory
Heather Heater
Codi Mills
Chel Terrell
Lindsay Utter

Fundraising
Chair(s): 
Autumn Fuhrman (LPC Secretary/Treasurer)
Committee:
Heather Heater
Casey Hinnant

Marketing
Chair(s): 
Morgan Boecker
Kelli Toledo
Committee:
Samantha Albers
Kasey Brown
Makayla Getz
Sarah Gregory
Heather Heater
Casey  Hinnant
Rachel Waggie

Membership Services
Chair(s): 
Anne Kimmey
Caryn Vaught
Committee:
Samantha Albers
Casey Hinnant
Lindsay Kennedy
Chel Terrell
Kelli Toledo

Student Development
Chair(s): 
Cassie Rodibaugh
Committee:
Shelby Diehm
Makayla Getz
Heather Heater
Casey  Hinnant
Anna Miller
Chel Terrell

Vision Committee
Chair(s): 
Anne Kimmey
Scarlett Madinger
Committee:
Autumn Fuhrman
Casey  Hinnant
Kylene Scott
Lindsay Utter
Caryn Vaught