New Associate Director of Farm Programming for Radio Oklahoma Network (RON, Oklahoma City, OK) is Carson Horn. He will assist in covering local and national agricultural news for the network’s statewide broadcast and extensive Internet and social media outlets. Carson joins the network from his previous position as Director of Communications for the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association. During his tenure there, he developed the association’s annual convention and trade show into the state’s largest farm and ranch show. Carson received the 2015 Excellence in Communications and Public Relations Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in recognition for his work as managing editor for Arkansas Cattle Business magazine.
“We are excited to have Carson as the newest member of our team of media specialists to help communicate the latest farm and ranch news to the Oklahoma agricultural community,” said Ron Hays, RON Director of Farm Programming. “Carson brings a fresh perspective to our reporting efforts that are broadcast on more than 45 radio stations, via our website, OklahomaFarmReport.Com, and read in the daily farm and ranch news email that is one of the most respected electronic newsletters in the industry.”
Raised on his family’s wheat and cattle operation in Yukon, OK, he exhibited and evaluated livestock, participated in public speaking contests and campaigned for State FFA office during his high school years. Horn graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS in agricultural communications. While there, he remained active within the agricultural community serving as Vice President of the Ag Student Council and as President of the ag-based fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho. Also, he is a graduate of the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Encounter and the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Class. Carson said, “I am thrilled to be back home in Oklahoma as part of the RON family. I look forward to reporting to my friends and neighbors on an industry I know and love.” Explaining the uniqueness of the network, Ron said, "Oklahoma is outside of the corn and soybean belt so the focus for our network is different than for the majority of our NAFB members. Since I arrived in Oklahoma as a relatively new farm broadcaster in 1977, the emphasis has always been on beef cattle and winter wheat. We report on a variety of other enterprises as well, but our bread and butter are in those two key areas. As a result, we wanted someone who especially understood the beef cattle business and the culture that surrounds it. With Carson's experience in Arkansas for the past four years, he brings an understanding that is invaluable. RON searched nationally for the best candidate, but Ron admits, “It was our hope to hire someone that has come through the Ag Communications Department at Oklahoma State University.” Ron adds, “Carson is having to learn how we do radio on our network, but the network of friends and associates he brings from his time in Stillwater is also an asset.” Ron concludes, "Carson is drinking from the firehose of being an on-air talent and writer for our radio network, website and daily email, and he is doing well. I look forward to him getting to know my NAFB family."
