Gale Cunningham, (Farm Director, WYXY Classic 99.1 FM, Champaign, Illinois) said, “Being selected as NAFB National Vice President is indeed one of my most precious recognitions. Serving farm broadcasters, allied industry members, management and sales members, and honorary and emeritus members is such an honor. In each case, the passion and dedication of delivering the story of agriculture to farmers, ranchers, and  consumers is unquestionably the highest privilege one could have.”

Veteran agricultural journalist Sam Knipp has joined the First Oklahoma Ag Network team as a farm broadcaster. Knipp brings diversified journalism, public relations, marketing, and academic skills to the iHeartradio family. A true son of the soil, Knipp was raised on a western Kansas farm and ranch near Scott City. He graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in agricultural journalism and a minor in agricultural economics.  Knipp later earned an MS in agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University (OSU). After working for radio and TV stations in Kansas and Missouri, he worked in communications and public relations for Kansas Farm Bureau and directed the communications and public relations efforts for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and American Farmers and Ranchers. 

Long-time Missouri Dairy Association (MDA) Executive Director Dave Drennan recently retired after serving 23.5 years at the helm of MDA. Drennan started with the association in December 1995 after 11 years with the National Corn Growers Association and eight years with the American Soybean Association. 

Brian Winnekins (WRDN, Durand, Wisconsin) reports his station organized a May 29 Town Hall Meeting to discuss how the current farm crisis has affected farmers and their families. 

“One of the opportunities we have as farm broadcasters for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting is participating in the NAFB Foundation Intern Grant program,” said NAFB Vice President Gale Cunningham. “The grant program helps to fund the cost of having an aspiring young potential farm broadcaster in their shop. One of my interns, Madison Mitchell, a student at the College of ACES at the University of Illinois, recently gave me insight that we sometimes miss in our daily agriculture broadcasts.”