Airing on the Side of Agriculture

​Wey Simpson (Emeritus member, Spokane Valley, WA) says, “I don't broadcast anymore.” After all, the day after Christmas, he just turned 91½.  “I still like to write and do a lot, but mostly for my personal wishes. I have a massive narrative of my family history that I work on when I have time.” Wey reports with a heavy heart that his wife, Jean, died November 18, 2017. “I was determined to deliver a eulogy because she was such a special person.  It was hard, and I admit my voice broke a few times, but I've heard many compliments for how moving and meaningful it was.”

On December 1, Rhonda Garrison (Southern Farm Network, Raleigh, NC) concluded a near 20-year career in ag radio, 15 of those years behind the microphone and more than 10 of those years with Southern Farm Network. Rhonda got her start in ag broadcasting with KGNC-AM (Amarillo, TX).  She began first in ag advertising sales transitioning into broadcasting full-time in the spring of 2003.

After a five-year stint teaching college, Mike Davis, the new News Director for the Southern Farm Network (Raleigh, NC), is excited to be a part of this staple for rural and small-town families. “For 43 years, SFN has been the go-to place for information about agriculture news, crop markets, agritourism and informative reports and interviews with the agricultural newsmakers in the Carolinas,” Mike said. He grew up in Knightdale, NC, back in the days when it was a “wide place in the road” outside of Raleigh, so his heart has always belonged to rural families.

Carey Martin said his interest in radio started in high school when he would listen to the DJs count down the top-10 hits each night on the radio.  “Since I was a farm boy growing up on a beef cattle and dairy farm, it made sense that I would pursue a career in farm broadcasting. During college, I was fortunate to work internships with Doug Thomas at the Southern States Network, Don Molino at the Louisiana Agri-News Network and Mike Danna at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

“I love an adventure.” That’s the first thing Sabrina Hill says when asked why she has chosen to leave California, and a network she helped build, for the Northern Plains. Hill was Farm News Director for AgNet West from 2012 until December 31, when love of adventure and love otherwise led her to North Dakota.

Gary Cooper (AgNet Media, Ocala, FL) attended the 26th Annual “Sommet de l’Elevage” in Clermont-Ferrand, France, an event that has become one of the largest livestock shows in the world. Translated from French, it’s the Livestock Summit, and it’s held there at its permanent facility early each October. This year’s three-day Sommet involved more than 93,000 visitors from 32 countries, nearly 1,500 vendor exhibits, and more than 2,000 live animals on display. 

For the 12th consecutive year, Hoosier Ag Today (Zionsville, IN) has awarded a scholarship to a high achieving Indiana 4-H member for her/his communication skills, reports HAT President Gary Truitt. Presented at the Scholarship Recognition Luncheon at the 2017 Indiana 4-H Congress, the award was made to Crystal Xue of Hamilton County. She is a senior at Carmel High School 

Bobbi Jo Bergum, a junior at Purdue University and 2017 recipient of an NAFB scholarship, began her farm broadcasting journey in Wisconsin when she was a freshman in college, working for the Wisconsin Farm Report under Farm Director Pam Jahnke. Pam was a familiar voice in her home, being the farm broadcaster her former dairy farming parents still listened to regularly.

NAFB Emeritus Member and 1984 NAFB President, Art Sechrest (Bloomington, IL), center, is presented his award by 2017 President Max Armstrong, left, and 1999 NAFB President Mike Adams. Mike presented the 1999 award earlier when Mike was President. 

Farm Director Jim Dewey (WTAD, Quincy, IL) will be playing the role of Kris Kringle, aka Santa Claus, in the Studio 57 production of Miracle on 34th Street. The production will be done in a radio broadcast-style based on a script that was used on radio in the 1940s. The script for this production was adapted by Clark A. Cruikshank who is also voicing several roles.