Airing on the Side of Agriculture

Sam Knipp (Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma City, OK) conducts a "training" interview with a student in the Oklahoma State University capstone class, "Animal Ag Advocacy and Policy."This marks the fifth year that Sam has worked alongside Dr. Jerry Fitch to teach students to be advocates for animal agriculture. The course is taught in the Animal Science Department each semester.

GREG AKAGI HONORED…Kansas Farm Bureau recognized members and friends at its 96th Annual Meeting, Dec. 1-2, in Manhattan.

WITHOUT THE NAFB INTERN SCHOLARSHIPS…it would not be possible to give these and others the opportunity to experience farm broadcasting. Gale Cunningham said, “I’ve been blessed with multiple interns, and some that have taken their experience to go on to be fine broadcast advocates for agriculture in their own professional setting.”

A RODEO COWBOY...while a student at Texas A&M University, Charlie Rankin (Emeritus and retired, KURV, Edinburg, TX) proudly displays his 60-year membership certificate from NAFB on his apartment wall in Boerne, TX. In 1947, he won the all-around title at the Texas A&M Rodeo. He was part of the group of college contestants who organized the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. But, he left the rodeo ring behind after

LOOKING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD…We asked Past President Janet Adkison to look back and offer her reflections as NAFB moves into 2015: 

Quicker than anticipated, 2014 came to a close.  I was warned the year serving as NAFB President would fly by and it certainly did.  As I look back at the year I believe it will always stand out as a highlight--A new home, a new job, and NAFB leadership combined into one bundle of excitement creates a memory that’s going to be hard to match.

When it comes to the family business led by Jeff Nalley (Cromwell Ag Radio Network, Utica, KY). That’s what Jeff does in his spare time when he’s taking a break from farm broadcasting. “I grew up on a farm that fell in the 80’s crisis. That led me to radio. I wanted the kids to have some ‘hands-on’ experience with growing crops and marketing. We started with both mums and strawberries. Now we’re down to just mums. The weather isn’t favorable for a commercial strawberry business with our soil type and location. We started with just 250 mums. We’re well over that mark now.” Hot weather in June killed about 10 percent of their early plants.

During the 71st NAFB Convention three college students were award the 2014 NAFB Foundation Scholarships.

“What a tremendous honor it was for me to receive the 2014 Farm Broadcaster of the Year Award,” Ken Anderson (Brownfield Network, Lincoln, NE) said after the November convention in Kansas City. “I attended my first NAFB Convention in 1977, at the ripe old age of 22, and have watched many great farm broadcasters receive this prestigious award over the years.”

Nicole Heslip (Michigan Farm Radio Network, East Lansing, MI) said she enjoys being a spokesperson for agriculture. “With less than two million farmers in the nation, I whole heartedly believe not only farmers, but family, friends and agribusiness professionals need to do their part in sharing the agricultural story. I love what my family has done on the farm. Being someone who speaks not only for my family but also for the industry is an amazing opportunity.” 

Bill Zortman (KELO/KELQ, Sioux Falls, SD) was recognized for his diligent coverage of farm and ranch news by the South Dakota Farmers Union during their 99th convention held November 20-21 in Aberdeen.