Airing on the Side of Agriculture

ELLIS REJOINS WCIA STAFF – Stu Ellis, farm broadcaster, rejoined the staff at WCIA after a two-year gap.

Ellis grew up watching Channel 3 in central Illinois, but no farm broadcaster was on staff. He started out doing a short farm program each morning.

ANDERSON RETIRES FROM NATIONAL FFA OFFICE – Morgan Anderson, a junior at Ohio University, retired from serving as the National FFA Eastern Region Vice President in October 2024.

She grew up in a rural town, where she saw food waste and hunger coexist.

Gabel Publishes Ag-Themed Children's Book – Rachel Gabel, farm broadcaster for Western Ag Network, is about to release her sixth agriculture-themed children’s book.

She started writing children's books when she noticed few options for kids interested in agriculture.

Fink Interns at Stockyards Ag Experience – Gabby Fink, a South Dakota State University senior, spent her summer interning in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Fink is a student member of NAFB.

Fink grew up on a cow-calf operation north of Plankinton, South Dakota, where she was introduced to agriculture at a young age.

Drennan Visits World War II Sites in Europe – Dave Drennan celebrated his retirement earlier this year by taking a trip to Europe with his wife in July 2024.

Jessie Lamp, a junior at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, interned for Helena Products Group this summer. She is a student member of NAFB.

Lamp is an agricultural and environmental sciences communication major and has been involved in agriculture for most of her life.

Ben Jarboe was hired by Mid-West Farm Report as a farm broadcaster on July 15.

Jarboe grew up on a row crop farm in central Illinois, where his family raised corn and soybeans. He knew from a young age that he wanted to stay in agriculture when he grew up.

“I remember riding along with my grandpa or uncle on the tractor, and that was all I wanted to do,” Jarboe said.

MOLINO HONORED BY LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION – Don Molino, senior farm broadcaster for the Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network, received the Michael Danna/Reginal Wallace Ag Communicator of the Year Award from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation in June 2024.

Shelly Legg, professor of agricultural communications at Oklahoma State University, received the Distinguished Educator Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture organization. She is an Allied Industry Council member of NAFB.

Legg grew up in northeast Oklahoma on a cow-calf operation, and she knew from an early age that she would end up in an agricultural career.