Rusty Halvorson recently marked 20 years at the American Ag Network (Fargo, ND). His broadcasting career is rooted in family tradition. As a young boy, Rusty sat beside his father, Lee, in the sports broadcast booth and watched as his dad announced countless radio play-by-play broadcasts across North Dakota. "It was always exciting when dad brought me along to a baseball or basketball game. I enjoyed so many aspects of it – traveling, watching dad set up his broadcast. That's a pretty big deal to a little kid, especially when it's your dad." Rusty added with a laugh, "He never turned up my mic, though." Lee Halvorson recently retired from radio, after being inducted into the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2003. Rusty started his radio days as a teenager at 660 KEYZ AM (Williston, ND). He worked as a part-time announcer at the station until moving to Fargo to complete his general agriculture degree at North Dakota State University with a minor in mass communications.
Just before graduation, Rusty called on long-time family friend Lyle Romine of the American Ag Network in Fargo for advice to begin a career in farm broadcasting. That conversation was the spark for Rusty's career. "Dad encouraged me to give Lyle a call and ask him a few questions about farm broadcasting, and where to get a start after I graduated from NDSU. Lyle invited me to the network studio for a visit, and after we caught up on the old days, we talked about what I wanted for the future. That conversation led to a couple of phone calls, and not long after Lyle offered me a chance to join the network if I agreed to stick around for at least two years and learn 'to do the job right.' I said I could agree to that, and Lyle took me under his wing and taught me the ropes. Over the years, he became my broadcast mentor and eventually one of my closest friends." After Lyle's untimely passing in 2010, Rusty was named Farm Director, and his travels since have taken him many places across the country.
Rusty’s most recent happy memory was racing down NASCAR drivers, left, Justin Allgaier and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on the Trade Show floor at the 2017 Commodity Classic in San Antonio for a quick interview and photo. Looking back over the past 20 years at the American Ag Network, Rusty said his numerous interviews and personal interactions with people at farm shows have been the most rewarding part of his job. As for the future, Rusty said he looks forward to many more travels with memorable moments. "The two years I promised to Lyle and the network turned into two decades in the blink of an eye, but I've seen a lot along the way."
