After decades working across agricultural communications, policy and industry relations, Amy Bradford is now using that experience to help others tell their stories.
Bradford is the CEO and founder of Bradford Consultant Group, an independent consulting firm she launched in 2023. Through the business, she focuses on marketing communications, media relations, brand development and leadership coaching within the agricultural industry.
Her path into agriculture started early.
Bradford grew up connected to farming through her grandparents. One grandfather worked as an agricultural advisor and high school agriculture teacher in the Chicago suburbs, while the other grew specialty crops. Though her parents were not directly involved in agriculture, those early experiences helped shape her interests.
“As I grew up, I knew that communications was something that I was good at and that I enjoyed,” Bradford says. “I always got As in English, and I took some speech classes and excelled in that as well.”
Bradford began building her career in agricultural communications at the Illinois Farm Bureau, where she worked in the organization’s News and Communications Division. Her responsibilities included writing press releases, coordinating media relations and connecting farmers and organizational leaders with broadcast and print interviews.
During that time, Bradford also helped launch and produce the talk show RFD Today on the RFD Illinois Network, serving as both a producer and on-air talent.
“That really got me into the broadcasting side of things,” Bradford says. “I’ve always loved interviewing people and getting their stories out.”
Bradford later continued her career in public service at the Illinois Department of Agriculture, where she worked closely with department officials and media outlets to share information about agriculture programs and policies across the state.
One project she helped facilitate involved bringing together farmers and agribusiness leaders to discuss agricultural policy priorities. Through those conversations, she saw firsthand how policy decisions could impact everyday consumers.
“One of the things that came out of that was the ability for people who receive SNAP benefits to use those benefits at farmers markets,” Bradford says. “It was important to me that people getting help for their food needs are able to buy healthy foods.”
Bradford later spent several years working within the Farm Credit System before joining GROWMARK Inc. in 2007. She remained with GROWMARK until 2023 before launching her consulting firm.
Alongside her professional work, Bradford has remained active in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting through its Allied Industry Council and previously served on the organization’s board of directors. She now helps support fundraising efforts for the NAFB Foundation, which provides scholarships and internship grants for future agricultural communicators.
“It’s been a great opportunity and joy to be able to get behind something that I really believe in,” Bradford says.
For those considering involvement with NAFB’s Allied Industry Council, Bradford says the relationships and exposure to different sectors of agriculture are invaluable.
“I think the dues are reasonable, and the exposure you get with people throughout the industry is incredibly valuable,” Bradford says. “Those relationships are key not only in helping your own career but also supporting the many jobs across agriculture.”
