Airing on the Side of Agriculture

70-Year NAFB Member

Don Lerch, Lifetime Broadcast Council-Emeritus member, who resides in Juno Beach, FL, tops the NAFB list of longtime members at 70 years. At 97 years young, he recalled his early farm broadcasting years in a phone call on June 1. He began his farm broadcasting career on June 9, 1941, at KDKA (Pittsburgh, PA), a Westinghouse-owned station and part of the NBC Red Network. He had just graduated from Penn State University with a degree in agronomy. 

Sixth Generation Rancher and Farm Broadcaster

Lane Nordlund is the Associate Ag Director at the Northern Ag Network based in Billings, MT. The network provides 22 different daily radio shows on 60 radio stations and two HD TV programs on 12 TV stations. Lane is the sixth generation of his family to raise cattle on their ranch on the Ft. Belknap Indian Reservation as well as off the reservation near Dodson, MT. 

Founding Fathers

Leadership NAFB 2016

“I’m one of the lucky few selected to attend Leadership NAFB 2016 prior to the NAFB Washington Watch event in April,” reports Carah Hart (Red River Farm Network, Grand Forks, ND). In two days, a group of seven broadcasters shared an open dialogue about what it’s like to be a leader in the workplace, focusing on the power of vulnerability, articulating a vision and good communication. 

Terry Henne Celebrates 45 Years At WSGW

More than 100 people attended a noon party on June 21 to honor Terry Henne’s tenure at WSGW (Saginaw, MI). His wife and daughter were responsible for planning and executing the party on the deck at Radio Centre with the help of WGSW General Manager Shannone Dunlap.

Littlefield Tells Ethanol Story From The Pit

Susan Littlefield (KZEN Radio, Columbus, NE) has always been a promoter of ethanol. “We use it on the farm in our vehicles, and I enjoy getting the chance to tell the story from the producers’ perspective.” She shares their excitement in knowing that what they grow has such an impact beyond their fields.

Joel Penhorwood Joins Ohio Ag Net

In May, NAFB scholarship winner Joel Penhorwood joined the staff at Ohio Ag Net (OAN) and Ohio’s Country Journal (OCJ) as a field reporter and farm broadcaster. He is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University (OSU) with a degree in Agricultural Communication. While at OSU, Joel was heavily involved in Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, serving as president for two years. 

New Economic Indicator To Track Health of Farm Economy

There’s a new tool in the toolbox from CME Group and Purdue University that’s designed to measure the confidence farmers and ranchers have in the health of the U.S. agricultural economy – the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. On May 3, 2016, CME Group announced its partnership with the Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture to introduce the Ag Economy Barometer.

KNXR Is New NAFB Station

Lynn Ketelsen has announced the purchase of KNXR in Rochester, MN, a 100,000 watt FM station featuring Greatest Hits. It’s owned by Ketelsen and John Linder. KNXR has been accepted as an NAFB Station and will air farm reports by Linda Brekke and Ketelsen.

WOWO Radio Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary

“Jay Gould was absolutely iconic as the WOWO farm director for about 34 years and really put WOWO on the map as one of the premier farm stations in the country during those years,” reports Rob Winters (WOWO, Fort Wayne, IN). Gould was the creator of the original farm show back in the early ‘30s called The Little Red Barn. The show had a catchy musical theme that was originally performed live in the studio.

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