John McDonald was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame May 2 in Murfreesboro, TN. NAFB Executive Director Tom Brand responded to a request from the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame for more information about John, who was 1956 President of the National Association of Television and Radio Farm Directors (NATRFD) and was named to the NAFB Hall of Fame in 1992.

During Washington Watch (April 27), The Doan award, honoring excellence in reporting agriculture, was awarded to Michelle Rook, managing farm director at WNAX (Yankton, SD). This is the inaugural year for The Doan. Presented by the NAFB Foundation, through a gift from Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., The Doan is named after Stewart Doan, a farm broadcaster and senior editor at Agri-Pulse, who passed away suddenly in May 2012. He was known for his passion for politics and determination for delivering breaking farm and rural policy news. Doan's reporting on issues affecting farmers and consumers is missed by the entire agriculture community. He served as NAFB president in 1998. 

For many it's the sound bringing a meeting to order, but to farm broadcasters it's a representation of history. Commissioned by Ken Root (a farm broadcaster, past president and past NAFB executive director) the gavel is made with three distinct types of wood to represent the three NAFB regions; East is walnut, South is cyprus and West is pine. The handle is made of oak.

Applications are now being accepted for 2015 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation Internship Grants. Through generous support of DuPont Pioneer, the NAFB Foundation is once again offering 10 member stations and networks the opportunity to sponsor an intern. Each Internship Grant provides $1,000 towards intern expenses, and provides a college student with rewarding experience.

Washington Watch is just around the corner. Make this the year to attend. It's an unbelievable experience, giving you a greater knowledge of how Washington D.C. works and introduces you to high-ranking members of the officials throughout the U.S. government. I attended my first Washington Watch last year (2014). I had no idea what to expect or how to cover the event, but with other veteran broadcasters in attendance it didn't take long to learn.