Long-time KICD AM/FM (Spencer, IA) Farm Director Dan Skelton announced that he will retire at the end of this year. Dan's career with KICD radio started in 1997 as a farm broadcaster and editor. In 2000, Dan became Farm Director. For nearly 19 years, area listeners have relied on his voice for the latest market information and ag-related news locally and nationally. Dave Putnam, President and General Manager of the Spencer Radio Group, said "Dan's knowledge of agriculture and his relationships with other professionals in the ag industry has been a tremendous asset to KICD and our listeners. He is a true professional and a class act!" Dan has been involved in numerous organizations and committees over the years. He is a member of the Clay County Farm Bureau and Clay County Growers, active with the Clay County Ag Committee, which helps plan the Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook Show in Spencer.
Also, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Clay County Fair Association and the Administrative Council of the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. Dan said his fondest memory working at KICD was in 2001 during an on-air fundraiser for the Clay County Regional Events Center. "Troy Leininger and I were both driving tractors on opposite routes soliciting funds to build the Events Center. Troy beat me back to Spencer, but only because I stopped at my mother's house in Sioux Rapids to pick up a tray of cookies!" Dan and his wife, Karen, have operated their family farm in southern Clay County for the past 35years. They have four grown children and nine grandchildren. Dan is a graduate of Iowa State University with a B.S. in agricultural communications. About his tenure at KICD, Dan said, “I planned to stay three to five years and move on to something else. It’s been nearly 19 years, but that time has finally come. I came to love the job because it was always challenging, always rewarding, never boring, and it was a good fit with my farming operation. I’ve enjoyed working with farmers, commodity groups, university experts in agriculture and, yes, even politicians in helping to tell agriculture’s story. I have also very much enjoyed working with farm broadcasters from around the country.” About his future plans, Dan said, “I hope to have more time and do a better job farming for the next few years, and I’ll continue to stay active in local ag organizations. Beyond that, time will tell.”
