ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — Amanda Spoo, assistant director of communications for U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), has been promoted to director of communications in its Arlington, Virginia, U.S., headquarters.

“Amanda continues to demonstrate a highly effective approach to her work with an increasing number of responsibilities,” said Steve Mercer, vice-president of communications at USW. “Under her direction, we are reaching a much wider audience of buyers and farmers through social media and online tools. Her leadership on a very successful revision of our website, www.uswheat.org, was a crucial part of that effort and we are pleased to recognize her contribution.”

Spoo will continue to direct USW’s online communications efforts while supporting public relations and marketing communications outreach to overseas wheat buyers and U.S. farmer stakeholders.

Spoo was director of communications with the Kansas Pork Association before joining USW in 2015 as a communications specialist and was promoted to USW assistant director of communications in 2017. She grew up in Hermiston, Oregon, U.S., and received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and journalism at Kansas State University. She worked three years as a student communications specialist at the IGP Institute and as a communications intern in government affairs with ICM, Inc., a Kansas biofuels company.

Spoo continues to be active in Agriculture Future of America (AFA) and currently is the AFA Alliance chair and representative to the AFA board of directors. She is also a member of AAEA-The Ag Communicators Network and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.