KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 21, 2025) – The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) recognized excellence in agricultural broadcasting and exceptional contributions to the farm broadcasting industry with multiple awards during its annual convention Nov. 19–21, 2025, in Kansas City. More than 700 broadcasting professionals, ag industry leaders, newsmakers and students attended the association’s 82nd convention this week.
Meghan Grebner was honored as Farm Broadcaster of the Year. Grebner, an 18-year media veteran, is broadcast supervisor at Brownfield Ag News, where she oversees the quality and content of the network’s news and radio programming. She also anchors and writes the network’s Livestock Market reports and hosts the daily Healthy Living program, among other responsibilities. Grebner has a long list of service and leadership roles at NAFB, in her community and in the industry. She is currently serving as president of the NAFB Foundation board of directors.
C.J. Miller, assistant news director for Hoosier Ag Today and Michigan Ag Today, received the Horizon Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding broadcaster in his or her first five years of professional broadcasting work. Miller produces on-air ag news content that runs on the networks’ 100-plus affiliates and is active in community and agriculture events and organizations.
Winning the prestigious Doan Award was Michelle Rook, national news and market reporter for Ag Day TV and U.S. Farm Report at Farm Journal, for her report, “Soyfoam: From the Field to the Fire. The Doan, sponsored by Agri-Pulse Communications, is named after Stewart Doan, former farm broadcaster and senior editor at Agri-Pulse, who passed away in 2012. Doan was known for his excellence in farm and rural policy news.
The 2025 Workhorse Achievement Award was presented to Alan Watts, host of Your Ag Edge and Travelin’ the Bluegrass. Watts has built a trusted connection with Kentucky’s farmers and rural communities through his on-the-road storytelling and coverage of local events, sharing the stories of people that make rural Kentucky thrive. His tireless commitment to community coverage and agricultural outreach earned him this year’s award.
The Dix Harper Meritorious Service Award was presented to Dr. Dwayne Cartmell, former farm broadcaster and current professor at Oklahoma State University, for his years of commitment to strengthening the engagement of the next generation of ag communicators with farm broadcasting and agribusiness careers. His leadership and advocacy have continued to elevate the NAFB student program.
Veteran broadcasters Janet Adkison and Gale Cunningham were honored on Thursday evening as 2025 NAFB Hall of Fame inductees. Adkison, a longtime broadcaster who is now director of public affairs and advocacy for the Missouri Farm Bureau, served as NAFB president in 2014. Cunningham, ag director for the Central Illinois Multimedia Group, was the association’s president in 2021.
Additional awards included:
- Herb Plambeck Award, recognizing top creative farm broadcast advertising, went to Mick Kjar, AgNews 890 (single ad category) for the North Dakota Livestock Alliance Annual Summit; and Susan Littlefield, American Ag Network (series), for Farming Minds: Mental Health in Agriculture.
- Broadcast Contest Awards (Audio) first-place winners: Marketcast (Susan Littlefield, American Ag Network); Newscast (Bryce Doeschot, Nebraska); Feature (Bryce Doeschot, Nebraska); Interview (Parker James).
- Broadcast Contest Awards (Video): First-place winners: Marketcast (AgDay TV); Newscast (Tyne Morgan); Feature (Tyne Morgan); Interview (AgDay TV).
- NAFB News Service Awards: Editor's Choice (Joanna Guza, Midwest Communications); Editor's Choice for Exceptional Merit (Jesse Allen, Agriculture of America); Excellence in Ag Reporting (Parker James, Your Ag Network).
About NAFB
Founded in 1944, NAFB is a non-profit professional organization whose mission is to lead, promote and support growth in agricultural and rural broadcasting for the benefit of its members, audiences and industry. NAFB membership comprises farm broadcasters, ag media sales and marketing professionals, allied industry and associations, and students studying agriculture communications. For more information, visit nafb.com.
