Get to Know - Karen Knutsen
Holstein World: Describe your position at Holstein World. When did you first begin working, what are your primary responsibilities, favorite tasks, etc.
Karen Knutsen: I started at Holstein World in February 2002, so I””m just about to celebrate being a New Yorker for five years now! When I was first hired, my primary responsibilities included more public relations things - writing press releases, helping plan special issues, writing promotion pieces, and helping with ads. I transitioned into an assistant editor position about a year after that, and eventually became Editor in August of 2004. Besides writing, as well as organizing a fabulous editorial team, I still dabble with some ad work and website updates. I””m also in charge of collecting news for both Holstein World and AllBreed Access daily updates. My favorite part of the job, by far, is traveling and learning the stories behind everyone that I meet. It doesn””t matter if you have 30 cows or 3,000 cows, your stories are fascinating because they all reflect the passion that we share for the Registered Holstein cow.
Holstein World: Share with our readers a little bit about your personal background. What you did before Holstein World, schooling, family members, pets, hobbies, etc.
Karen Knutsen: I was born and raised on Lovdal Farms in Rising Sun, MD. My dad and uncle were partners on the dairy, until just recently, when my uncle retired. Dad still milks cows and loves it! I graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in animal science and left school to work as a poultry supervisor for Perdue Farms in Delaware. The chicken business is quite an adventure, and I should probably write a book about those 1.5 years of my life, but I missed the dairy industry too much to stay. I worked for Semex USA for 10 years - both on the east coast and in Madison, so I got to fully appreciate the level of enthusiasm that Badger fans have for all their teams! From Semex, I came directly to the World. I””m currently serving as a 4-H co-leader for the Moo Crew Dairy Club in central New York, and love, love, love the winter times here - including skiing, hockey, snow shoeing and anything that involves being outside in the cold weather! I still get home to milk some weekends, and really enjoy working at Lylehaven when I can!
Holstein World: What is one of your favorite memories working here? Most exciting accomplishment?
Karen Knutsen: I””ve got too many favorite memories to pick just one - but most include those lovely travel stories! Julie Brown and I trying desperately to find a hotel with a hairdryer on a trip west…decorating for the Kingsmill sale, any trip to California, a speeding ticket on the way to the Heatherstone sale, my Bacon Hill lunch meetings…this industry is filled with many great clients, but more importantly, it”’’s filled with even more great friends! And of course, our office is loaded with practical jokesters. We have an awesome working environment both here and with our field team - the best I””ve known! Exciting accomplishments have been the evolution of AllBreed Access and the continued new developments in Holstein World.
Holstein World: Is there any additional information you’d like to share?
Karen Knutsen: I think the success of Holstein World and AllBreed Access is all due to teamwork - between the livestock ad team and the internet team, and also between all our readers. The magazine should really be called “Your Holstein World” as we try extremely hard to bring the world to your door, telling your stories and reporting on your events. We absolutely love what we do, and while many of us would like to, we can””t milk cows. These magazines are our “farms” and we””re just as committed to making them succeed. I think you””ll see a lot more new things in 2007 - both in print and on the internet. We hope you like them! Please feel free to let us know what you think - our ability to change and grow comes from your comments and suggestions!