Accomplished agricultural leader Charlene Finck is the President of Industry Relations of Farm Journal. In that role, she is immersed in all Farm Journal franchises including magazines, websites, mobile messaging and other digital offerings, events, nationally broadcast television, and radio programs as well as data and human resources functions of the company. Finck, who is a member of the executive leadership team at Farm Journal, has extensive experience in product development, innovation, and team management.

As a part of her award-winning career as a business-to-business journalist, Finck served a decade as the 9th Editor of Farm Journal magazine before moving into the company’s executive team. She founded the Farm Journal Test Plots program, which has provided independent testing of equipment, technology and production practices on U.S. farms working side by side with Farm Journal Field Agronomists.

Under her leadership, Farm Journal launched its popular Farm Journal College suite of farmer-focused trainings. In addition, she was instrumental in launching the Farm Journal Legacy Project, a multi-media advocacy effort focused on helping farm families transfer wealth and the day-to-day leadership to the next generation.

Several years later, Charlene helped launch the Farm Journal Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings together stakeholders from across the agricultural spectrum – farmers, industry leaders, academia, students, and consumers. The nonprofit provides education on how innovative agriculture can solve some of the world’s biggest challenges – such as global food and nutrition security – and the teams work with leaders to drive long-term positive action. The Foundation operates a range of interconnected programs that reach stakeholders at all levels – from students embarking on new careers, to farmers who produce food, to government officials who craft policies that influence how our entire food system functions. By reaching a diverse range of stakeholders, the Foundation broadens its influence and ultimately creates new champions to join our effort in building innovative, equitable, and sustainable food systems. She continues to support the Foundation, serving as President of the Board.

Today, she devotes her stewardship knowledge and advocacy experience to Farm Journal’s Trust In Food™ platform that is a Farm Journal initiative dedicated to accelerating the adoption of climate-smart and regenerative agriculture in ways that work for producers and enhance connection to consumers.

Charlene has what she calls Deep Roots and Dirty Boots in agriculture. She grew up on a family farm with crops and livestock in central Missouri where she devoted her time and talent to the success of the family operation. She and her husband live close by on a row-crop farm that devotes 400-plus acres to produce corn, soybeans, and wheat.

Throughout her career and continuing today, Charlene has served on numerous boards in the agricultural industry and committees to share her talents, knowledge, and extensive professional relationships within the industry. Her contributions are to many dimensions of agriculture. Now, during the Ukraine War, she is working with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation as the non-profit supports the Ukrainians.