Glenn Vaagen didn’t set out to become a farm broadcaster, but over the past decade, he’s become a trusted voice for agriculture in the Pacific Northwest.
A graduate of the University of Idaho with a degree in TV and radio communications, Vaagen began his career in news talk radio. Early on, he covered everything from presidential elections to high school sports and helped launch stations across Washington and Oregon. Agriculture wasn’t initially part of the plan.
That changed in 2014, when he took the opportunity to help launch what would become the Pacific Northwest Ag Network in Pasco, Washington. The role introduced him to an entirely new industry and a new passion.
“I don’t really come from much of an ag background,” Vaagen said. “But the farming community has been so gracious to me. People are more than willing to share their insights and their perspective.”
Since then, Vaagen has built a respected career in farm broadcasting, earning awards from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) and interviewing notable leaders, including former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Dan Glickman.
Still, he says the most rewarding part of the job isn’t the high-profile interviews. It’s the people he meets every day.
“I love the opportunity to learn and to talk with people who have already forgotten more about their sector than I’ll ever have an opportunity to learn,” he said.
In the Pacific Northwest, where agriculture plays a major economic role but isn’t always top of mind for the public, Vaagen sees his work as both educational and essential. Through his reporting, he helps connect listeners to the realities of modern farming and the issues shaping the industry.
“We have to do a lot of educating and advocating about what’s going on in agriculture and why the public should care,” he said.
That mindset also shapes his advice for those entering the field. Vaagen encourages young broadcasters to remain open to new opportunities, even if they fall outside their comfort zone.
“Don’t have a preconceived idea of what you’re going to do,” he said. “There’s so much diversity in agriculture. If you’re willing to go out there and try something new, you’re going to be constantly learning.”
As a member of NAFB, Vaagen values the organization’s ability to connect broadcasters with resources and perspectives from across the country, which helps him bring timely, relevant information back to producers in the Northwest.
Looking ahead, he’s focused on the future of agriculture, particularly how the next generation will step into leadership roles and how the industry will be represented in national conversations.
“I’m excited to see where the ag industry goes and what we’ll be doing to make sure that next generation is ready,” he said.
At its core, Vaagen believes agriculture’s story is one that deserves to be shared widely and honestly. “Less than 2% of the country is feeding not only our nation, but many others,” he said. “We all need to take the opportunity to share what’s really going on in agriculture.”
For Vaagen, that responsibility continues to drive his work one story at a time.
