Please Welcome the Following New NAFB Members

Broadcast Council 
•   Joshua McGill, Farm Broadcaster, Southeast AgNet Radio Network
•   Davis Michaelsen, Editor, Farm Journal Media    

Allied Industry Council 
•    Jerry Haack, President, it's all marketing, inc.
•    Tracey Mershon, Partner, Mershon & McDonald LLC
•    Kirstin Grantham, Communications, AgriBank Farm Credit Bank
•    Amanda J. Spoo, Communications Specialist, U.S. Wheat Associates

This summer the NAFB Board of Directors will be hosting a New York Agribusiness Luncheon, featuring guest speaker, Chris Fesko. Chris is an award winning educator, farmer, and is the creator of the On The Farm video series. The luncheon will connect NAFB with associations, companies and dignitaries in the agriculture industry, throughout the state, including the New York Governor's office. The luncheon is July 23, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. at The Olde Tater Barn, Central Bridge, New York. For more information, please contact Kim Holland.

Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News, Jefferson City, MO) has been covering agriculture and consumer news for Brownfield since 2007. This has included events in her home state of Missouri and beyond – from Washington, DC, to Germany. Also, she produces a daily, 90-second consumer education program, Healthy Living, aimed at informing consumers about food and nutrition, striving to dispel commonly held misconceptions about them.

While a Texas A&M University student, Don Atkinson (First Oklahoma Ag, Voice of Southwest Agriculture (VSA) and Yancey Ag Network, Oklahoma City, OK) had nearly 10 years of broadcasting experience under his belt when the on-campus office of the Extension Service hired him. Previously, he had worked as a disc jockey, news writer, copy writer and producer. Working in the Texas A&M radio-television unit, Don helped write and produce a weekly agricultural radio show for two years. 

When her father established the radio station in 1961, General Manager Stacey Smith said the call letters were chosen as an abbreviation for World’s Greatest Farming Area (WGFA). “We have always strived to bring quality ag news and information to our listeners,” she said. “Ken Root joined our team in 2010, replacing Colleen Callahan who went on to head the USDA Rural Development in Illinois. As Ken planned his retirement in April 2015, WGFA knew that having an NAFB farm broadcaster is important to the local ag communities. With Ken’s help, we are proud to introduce John Gooding as the WGFA new NAFB Farm Broadcaster, a familiar name to many residents of the Illiana area.”