Ron Hays (Radio Oklahoma Network/KGGF Radio, Oklahoma City, OK) explains conditions that led to this disaster. “Late winter and early spring is always a dangerous time for wildfire in Oklahoma, and after good rainfall last year in northwestern Oklahoma, we had a lot of standing grass that was dry and ready to burn, so it was not a surprise when we got word of these fires in southwest Kansas, northwest Oklahoma and over the line in the northeastern corner of the Texas Panhandle.” 

Dillon Davis (The AgWatch Network, Jonesboro, AR) was born in a small town in northeast Arkansas. In his youth, he spent a lot of his time pretending to be a radio host or anchorman while helping his grandfather tend to their farm. After high school graduation, Dillon attended Arkansas State University where he majored in broadcast journalism.

Don Molino (Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network, Baton Rouge, LA) received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters on March 21. How did Don get started in radio? “The owner of a radio station in Paris, TX, was a family friend, and his kids were some of my best friends. 

In the late 1980s, Ken Root (Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network, Dyersville, IA) left farm broadcasting to be the Executive Director of the National AgriChemical Retailers Association (NARA) as an offshoot of American Cyanamid Company. “My board of directors was made up of 35 fertilizer and agricultural chemical dealers from across the country. One director was from Georgia.

About two years ago, Todd Whelan bought KDHN Radio Station in Dimmitt, TX. Todd is proud to report that his station is now an NAFB member station. Todd is a veteran farm broadcaster with 34 years’ experience in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan, and Iowa.