“When I was in sixth grade, I told a friend that I wanted to someday be on the radio,” said Mike Adams (Adams on Agriculture).  “Of course, back then my concept of radio was music and ball games.  I didn’t even know there were farm broadcasters on the radio.  Also, I didn’t know that working on a farm would be the best education and career preparation I could get.”

For the first time in eight years, Prairie Farmer has named an Honorary Master Farmer.  They chose Max Armstrong (WGN, Chicago, IL, and Penton Agriculture, Aurora, IL). 

Greg Martin (WJBC, Bloomington, IL) said, “It has been an interesting road that has led me from Kansas to Illinois back to Kansas to Washington State and finally back to Illinois. Such is the life of a radio personality.”  He explained, “In a way it’s a full circle for me since my first program director job was in Bloomington, IL, some 32 years ago for WIHN 96FM.

The Thomas Fire that burned through Ventura County last December became the largest fire in California’s history, and it led to some major agricultural losses, reports Patrick Cavanaugh (California Ag Today, Clovis, CA). “There were 6,603 acres of avocados, 1,800 acres of lemons, and another 540 acres of oranges, as well as another dozen crops that were affected,” said Henry Gonzales, the Agricultural Commissioner of Ventura County.

Mid-West Family Broadcasting has gained a new voice for Wisconsin agriculture. Jenna Lee Crayton is the Assistant Farm Director for the Wisconsin Farm Report Radio Network. Jenna Lee works alongside the “Fabulous Farm Babe,” Pam Jahnke, to keep the public informed on Wisconsin agriculture from field to fork. Jahnke said, “I’m excited to have Jenna as our assistant. Her passion for Wisconsin agriculture is obvious, and I’m looking forward for our audience to connect with her as they hear her every day.”