Terry James (News and Ag Director, WJBC-AM, Bloomington, IL) describes how his career as a farm broadcaster has evolved during the past 10 years. “In 1996, I began interviewing farmers, 4-H leaders, and emceeing the Friday night 4-H auction at the Mercer County Fair in Aledo, IL. I continued this until I was promoted to Program and Farm Director at WHHK and WGEN in 1999 in Henry County, IL.” He hosted an expanded noon farm show updating commodity prices from the local grain elevators and auction sites and hosted numerous farmers from Henry County on his morning show. He broadcasted live from the Farm Progress Show in Springfield the following year.
“In 2002, I accepted a job as an anchor at WOC (Davenport, IA), where flooding was a major concern along the Mississippi, Rock, and Wapsi Rivers. I covered damage to crops and other downfalls that Mother Nature brought to the farming community.” In 2007, Terry became News Director for the Nebraska Radio Network and covered the legislature. He spent extensive time on the water fight between Kansas and Nebraska. Also, he followed legislative hearings in Nebraska regarding efforts to preserve the family farm which many felt was in jeopardy. Many of the bills that came through the legislature were agricultural in nature. He was invited back to the Mercer County Fair on several occasions to speak with the people he had grown up interviewing and emceeing their annual 4-H Auctions. Also, Terry was invited in 2011 to emcee at the Rock Island County Fair. Regarding his background before becoming a farm broadcaster, Terry said, “I grew up on a small farm in Sherrard, IL, and I frequently helped my father, who worked part time at the neighboring Calderone Farms operation.”
