Blogs | NAFB

From the Control Board to the News Service: Meet Chad Smith

Chad Smith never planned on becoming a farm broadcaster. He certainly never planned on becoming editor of the NAFB News Service.

But after a career full of unexpected turns, Smith has found himself doing both.

Smith attended Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota, where he studied speech communication, radio and television.

“I actually was first interested in radio because I wanted to be a play-by-play guy,” Smith said.

10 Sep 2026
By Jessica Wesson

Airing on the Side of Agriculture

Mike Johanns Joins Avalo as Senior Advisor

From growing up on a dairy farm in north central Iowa to serving as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns has spent much of his career connected to American agriculture. Now, he is continuing that work in a new role as senior advisor for Avalo.

Johanns joined Avalo in early June, bringing decades of experience in agriculture, public policy and government to the agricultural technology company.

His agricultural roots stretch back to his childhood near Osage, Iowa, where his family operated a 160-acre farm with dairy cattle, beef cattle and chickens.

10 Sep 2026
By Jessica Wesson

Airing on the Side of Agriculture

Doeschot Takes AM Radio Advocacy to Washington

Bryce Doeschot, operations manager for the Rural Radio Network, traveled to Washington, D.C., in July to join broadcasters from across the country in advocating for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

Doeschot represented Nebraska as part of a fly-in organized through state broadcaster associations across the country. While broadcasters from some states used the trip to encourage lawmakers to support the legislation, Doeschot said Nebraska's visit was largely a “thank you tour.”