Issues important to rural Americans, farmers, ranchers, and senior citizens will be the sole focus in a new series of live, one-hour, primetime programs featuring presidential candidates leading up to the caucus in Iowa, and New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries. In announcing this coverage on June 17, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Patrick Gottsch, Founder and President of Rural Media Group, said, “Rural America’s impact on national elections is undeniable. This is a tremendous opportunity for each candidate to address issues largely ignored by urban media, yet are so important to many of the citizens voting in these primaries.” He continued, "From day one, Rural Media Group's goal has been to reconnect city with country.

SUMMER INTERN AT KRVN…Bryce Doeschot of Hickman, NE, joins the KRVN/Rural Radio Network team as the summer farm broadcast intern.  Doeschot is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) where he is pursuing a degree in agricultural and environmental sciences communications. On campus, Bryce is active in campus activities, serves as an executive officer of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and is president of the UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau. Growing up on a family farm has inspired him to pursue a career in agricultural communications.

Will there be enough water to survive? Thirsty Land is a new documentary that tells the story of the water crisis and drought in the Western U.S., its impact on agriculture, communities and the global food supply. “The story of drought needs to be told! Our global food supply and our very survival of humans depend on clean, abundant fresh water.  I want to make the audience think about it every time they take a drink of water, enjoy a shower or water their lawn,” says Conrad Weaver (Allied Industry Member, Conjostudios, LLC, Emmitsburg, MD), who is producer and director of the film. The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska is partnering with Weaver in the production of Thirsty Land film. DWFI, along with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have provided startup sponsorship funds for the project to move ahead.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts plans two international and two domestic trade missions a year as part of his mission to grow Nebraska. Jesse Harding (KRVN/Rural Radio Network, Lexington, NE) traveled with the first mission hosted by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Department of Economic Development. For the Governor’s first international trade mission, the delegation went to Italy, Belgium and Denmark. The goals were to meet with companies who already use Nebraska products, have trade talks and to hopefully bring business into the state. Jesse was invited to join the mission as the only media participant. She said her most interesting takeaways came from visiting with European officials about American and Nebraska agriculture.

“Titles have changed this past year for the three of us that make up the RFD Radio Team,” reports Rita Frazer (RFD Radio Network®, Bloomington, IL). “In January, I became the Director of Network and Audio Services as Alan Jarand (seated) transitioned from Director to Part-time Audio Specialist. We feel very lucky to have Alan remain on the team with his golden voice, wisdom and institutional knowledge.” She added, “Kansas native DeLoss Jahnke joined our team in March of this year. It has only been a few months since he joined us here in Bloomington, but it feels like we have worked together forever. DeLoss and I have so much in common, including a love for farmers, agriculture, a passion for farm broadcasters and NAFB.