Airing on the Side of Agriculture

Monte James (Your Ag Network, Inc., Yankton, SD) grew up on a ranch on the northern borders of the sprawling Sandhills of Nebraska. His family raised cattle and farmed on the scenic Niobrara River Valley in Keya Paha County. His radio career started at a small station in O’Neill, NE, doing everything from hosting the Polka Show to local news and markets.

Unplugging his microphone for full-time retirement, Alan Jarand is moving from Illinois to New Orleans to be near family and to engage in fixing up their newly acquired home in the Historic District. He is surrounded by his RFD Radio Network (Bloomington, IL) colleagues, who wish him well.

Patrick Cavanaugh (California Ag Today, Clovis, CA) reports massive atmospheric rivers, one after another over the last few months, have been racking up rain totals throughout the state. “The San Joaquin 5-Station Precipitation Index surpassed the Top 12 Wettest Season rankings in the state’s climate history by 0.02 of an inch. Furthermore, snow accumulation is 170 percent of normal (as of February 24).”

“If you don't yet have a 2017 calendar, then you might want to put the new 2017 Classic Farm Tractors Calendar on your wish list,” said Brian Baxter (Baxter Communications, Indianapolis, IN).  

Farm Director Janelle Tucker (KMCH, Manchester, IA) also serves as the station’s news director and on-air host. She grew up as a farm girl in rural Dyersville, IA, the home of The Field of Dreams. “My parents operated a dairy farm, so I had the opportunity at a young age to get involved with chores and field work.

Thomas (Tom) Davis (WIBL/WRPW, Normal, IL) said, “My broadcasting career has come nearly full circle. I started in 1975 doing news, weather and market reports on WJCK-FM (Rensselaer, IN) and am now the Morning Host, Program-News-Farm Director at Cities 92.9 (Bloomington, IL).” 

In the middle of January, the weather forecasters started warning of a huge weather change for the weekend of January 14. Lory Williams (KBUF, Garden City, KS) reports, “In southwest Kansas, we had enjoyed warmer temperatures for a couple of weeks. I always find it interesting when the warnings come, because some listeners just brush it off.