Reporter credentials & contact

Journalism credentials

Professional

Equestrian reporting

Features in The Horse and the Chronicle of the Horse

“The Current Costs of Horse Ownership” won first place in the American Horse Publications 2024 Equine Media Awards – Self-Supported Publication – Equine Media Service to the Consumer, Single Article category. The publication asked me to revamp it for an advertiser-sponsored feature the following year.

Equestrian opinion

Blogs in The Chronicle of the Horse and The Plaid Horse

Other reporting

Staff reporter at the Cadillac News 2017-2021, covering city council, county governments, legislators and state government, the environment and outdoors, COVID-19.

Michigan Press Association recognized my 2019 PFAS coverage in the public service category. Earned a Rookie of the Year honorable mention in 2018 for a three-month eligibility period. My features, business/agriculture and spot news have also picked up nods.

Memberships

Michigan Press Association

American Horse Publications

Education

Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship, 2020-2021

MA in Journalism, Michigan State University, 2017

Great Lakes Echo, Capital News Service, Rachel Carson Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Environmental Journalism in 2017, Capital News Service award

Equestrian background

Lesson kid in Haslett (beginner western), Eagle (dressage) and Traverse City (western, then general English) in the mid-90s.

Work-to-ride and 4H in Traverse City, late 90s; took hunter-jumper lessons late 90s/early aughts, first at work-to-ride facility, then at a showing barn under a boarder who offered lessons; did equestrian team with my best friend's horse.

Mid-late aughts, leased a horse in Virginia, then rode at a foxhunting barn in northern Virginia (lessons; hacking; leasing; hunting with a farmer pack; attending point-to-points) before moving back home to Michigan in 2012. Rode again at same barn intermittently over the next few years when I visited Virginia.

Got back into horses in 2018, joined Pony Club, took a break due to pregnancy, bought first horse at age 37 in 2021, moved back to Lansing area later that year; took another break due to pregnancy, lost horse in 2022 to colic, had a riding accident in 2023, then got a new horse later that year; finally managed to get a Pony Club rating in December of 2024 (D2) and hope to go all the way to my A rating on the dressage track. Serving as secretary of Rose Lake Pony Club and incoming Regional Secretary of Great Lakes Region Pony Clubs. Hoping to foxhunt . . . soon.

Reach me

m. 517.896.8601 michiganhoofbeat @ gmail