When it comes to the family business led by Jeff Nalley (Cromwell Ag Radio Network, Utica, KY). That’s what Jeff does in his spare time when he’s taking a break from farm broadcasting. “I grew up on a farm that fell in the 80’s crisis. That led me to radio. I wanted the kids to have some ‘hands-on’ experience with growing crops and marketing. We started with both mums and strawberries. Now we’re down to just mums. The weather isn’t favorable for a commercial strawberry business with our soil type and location. We started with just 250 mums. We’re well over that mark now.” Hot weather in June killed about 10 percent of their early plants.
Cancer Survivor
Jeff added, “My grower only had pink mums. We planted them. Little did we know that my mother, Sue, had breast cancer at the time. She was diagnosed in the late summer. We decided to offer the pink mums for sale to draw attention to Breast Cancer Awareness.” His mom is a breast cancer survivor. Jeff said, “We started a program five years ago called Mums for Moms to sell flowers to support breast cancer research and help pay for mammograms for women who can't afford them.” He explained, “We partner with Cromwell Radio Stations, WMCI and WCRC, in Illinois to promote the events and work with Sara Bush Lincoln Hospital in Illinois as well. The flowers are a symbol of hope. God had a plan and allowed us to participate. Now the program is in our home town and two other cities in Illinois. We also support a ladies mission group who sell our flowers to support their various charities here at home and around the world.” Also, the Nalleys support the local FFA chapter in providing flowers for them as a fund raiser and help schools that sell mums to buy books, technology and transportation for field trips.
The Nalleys raised 3300 flowers this year. They sell their mums at their local farmers’ market, and they provide flowers for local schools for fundraisers. The family effort includes Jeff’s three sons, Will, 16, Rob, 14, Jon, 12, his daughter, Grace, 11, his wife and his mother. “It’s a hobby that got out of hand quickly. But it truly is a labor of love,” Jeff exclaims.
“Besides the community service he provides in growing mums, Jeff excels in farm broadcasting. He is receiving the Kentucky Farm Bureau Communications award in early December. “It's my 4th time,” Jeff said, “NAFB Hall of Famer Jack Crowner won it five times.”
