Last year, the Iowa Agriculturist celebrated its 100th year in publication.

The magazine, which is created and distributed by Iowa State students, is currently making the transition from a traditionally published magazine to a Web zine.

Treva Blumenshine, editor in chief of the Iowa Agriculturist and graduate student in journalism and mass communication, said this year her staff is going to produce a four-page spread that will feature the magazine’s top story on the cover.

“The four-page spread will really be just a teaser for the Web site,” Blumenshine said. “Hopefully, it will interest people in getting on the Internet and reading the magazine.”

Joel Geske, adviser for the magazine, said the history of the magazine has changed over the years.

“When the Iowa Agriculturist started, it reached beyond ISU,” he said.

Geske said when the magazine was first published in the early 1900s, it was an outreach magazine that provided many Iowans with up-to-date agricultural information.

“I hope that in the future, the College of Agriculture will use the Iowa Agriculturist to recruit and promote the College of Ag to prospective students,” Blumenshine said.

Now the Iowa Agriculturist is more directed to animal science and agronomy majors, but Blumenshine said she plans to expand the magazine’s focus to encompass all majors in the College of Agriculture.

She also said she hopes the Iowa Agriculturist will be used by the college to spark students’ interest in agricultural journalism.

“The students are still making decisions about the future of the magazine,” Geske said. “Last year, the magazine was published once, and the students were still experimenting with Web publication.”

The Iowa Agriculturist’s Web site is http://www.agriculturist.iastate.edu. Anyone interested in writing for the Iowa Agriculturist can contact Blumenshine at [email protected].