Congratulations George! After 57 years in broadcasting, George Gatley (Western Agri-Radio Networks, Inc., Yuma, AZ) retired at the end of August. The son of a Boy Scout executive who was raised in Wisconsin, George grew up working on a family friend’s farm where he learned about the hard work of farming. Initially, there were no tractors. Two Belgian horses did the wagon-pulling and hay field work.

Pat Morrow, communications manager at BASF Corporation, has been appointed to an assignment as senior communications manager, BASF Japan. In this role, she will lead communications for the agricultural division of BASF in Japan including branding, marketing communications, and public relations. 

Please welcome the following new NAFB members who joined this past month.

At the first meeting of the National Association of Radio Farm Directors (NARFD) on May 5, 1944 in Columbus, Ohio, membership fees were set at $10 for those affiliated with commercial stations and $5 for any member with a non-commercial station. Members unanimously supported the position that any regional group having funds be asked to turn that money over to the national treasurer except for what was needed for expenses already incurred. Time was granted to Barney Monahan of the U.S. Treasury to outline members responsibility in national War Bond sales in rural areas.

Prior to the start of the NAMA Fall Conference in Chicago, IL, NAFB had the opportunity to host leading agribusiness marketers for a pre-conference lunch, Tuesday, September 16. Our luncheon speaker was past NAFB member and broadcaster, Jay Truitt. Jay is now with Policy Solutions, a bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm in Washington, DC.