Airing on the Side of Agriculture

Iowa Farm Broadcaster Wins The Doan

Congratulations to Ben Nuelle, Farm Broadcaster with Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network, Des Moines, Iowa. Ben was awarded The Doan during 2016 National Ag Day Celebrations. Ben’s winning entry titled “Buried To The Neck” provides a first-person perspective on surviving a horrific grain bin entrapment. All farmers know the danger of becoming entrapped in grain, and very few survive.

NCBA Excellence in Agriculture Journalism Award

Susan Allen of Ag Information Network of the West (Walla Walla, WA) reports KayDee Gilkey, ag news reporter for their radio network, “was selected out of all the hundreds of print, television and radio journalists who report on the cattle industry to receive the prestigious NCBA Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award at the recent 2016 Cattle Industry Convention in San Diego.” She added, “Kay Dee was instrumental in educating cattlemen and women about issues impacting the cattle industry using her Open Range, Farm and Ranch Report and Colorado Ag Today daily radio programs. 

New NAFB Member

Terry James (News and Ag Director, WJBC-AM, Bloomington, IL) describes how his career as a farm broadcaster has evolved during the past 10 years. “In 1996, I began interviewing farmers, 4-H leaders, and emceeing the Friday night 4-H auction at the Mercer County Fair in Aledo, IL. I continued this until I was promoted to Program and Farm Director at WHHK and WGEN in 1999 in Henry County, IL.” 

KRVN Celebrates 65th Year

On February 1, KRVN Radio in Lexington, NE, celebrated its 65th year on-the-air. Joe Gangwish said, “This year's anniversary fell just ahead of a blizzard on the plains where 18 inches of snow fell with 40 to 50 mph winds.

50 Years On-Air

Curt Lancaster (Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network, Waco, TX) began his broadcasting career at age 15 at KPOS-AM, Post, TX). He’s worked at seven radio stations and three radio networks (two of which he launched). Also, he worked at three television stations for voice work and writing and directing their talk shows and newscasts. Curt said, “There is nothing in the broadcasting business I haven’t done. I have been a General Manager, a disc jockey, newsman, writer and producer of radio and TV commercials, video camera operator, TV director, radio consultant, program director, and, yes, janitor.”

NAFB Members Send Postcards For Kindergarten 100th Day School Project

Joe Gill (KASM, Albany, MN) said it all began with a comment from my 6-year-old son, Ben, after school one day. He said, "Dad, our class is collecting postcards from all 50 states!" His excitement resulted in a few inquiring questions on Joe’s behalf. The first one was...why? He said this is how their class is going to celebrate 100 days of school. Getting 100 postcards in 100 days, while collecting cards from all 50 states. 

In His 20 Years of Farm Broadcasting

Dave Schumacher (KTRS, St. Louis, MO) says that “One of the more frequently asked questions I run into in my travels is: How did you become a farm broadcaster, and better yet how were you able to remain a farm broadcaster on a major metropolitan radio station for 20 years?” Twenty years ago this April 15, Dave had just left the National Stockyards, where he had been a livestock commission man and one of the cattle auctioneers for many years.

2016 Blizzard Jonas

Snow storm Jonas made national news for its inconvenience to travelers. In fact, NAFB Vice President Tom Cassidy (Ag Radio Network, Barneveld, NY) had to spend an extra day in Platte City, MO, after attending his first NAFB Board meeting. Tom reports, “The storm covered just shy of one-third the U.S. population in 26 states from Maine to Louisiana. Jonas dumped the most snow on the Mid-Atlantic, starting Friday, January 22, leaving behind 20 to 40 inches in areas not accustomed to receiving that much snow in a season, let alone two days.”

Austin Receives Wisconsin Agriculture Award

Mike Austin (WTAQ-AM/FM & WDEZ, Green Bay, WI), left, was presented the Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture Award by Jim Holte President of Wisconsin Farm Bureau (WFBF) during the organization’s 96th Annual Meeting December 6. The award is given for outstanding contributions to Wisconsin’s agricultural industry. “Mike has been covering agricultural news and events for more than 30 years both on radio and TV in the Green Bay area. He is the ‘voice of agriculture’,” said WFBF Board Member Rosie Lisowe of Chilton. “His agriculture reports and stories are heard throughout the Green Bay area, and his advocacy for the agriculture industry reaches multiple generations.

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