NAFB Blog

Jesse Stewart (KGLO AM-1300, Mason City, IA) was hired as a farm broadcaster in May 2013.  He earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Simpson College in Indianola, IA.   “I actually kind of fell into farm broadcasting by accident. I had never considered it as a career in the industry until having some conversations with some of the staff I knew in Mason City. I had interned with the station the summer before my senior year and got to know the whole staff. 

Patrick Cavanaugh (California Ag Today Network, Clovis, CA) said to respond to current debates on water use by agriculture their radio network is educating listeners about transpiration of moisture by plants. Almonds and all other crops transpire most water they take up, he said. Allan Fulton, an Irrigation and Water Resources Farm Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension in Redbluff, CA, has been their network’s resource person.

A crowd of more than 1,000 people packed the Orr Building in August on Ag Day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds to celebrate Illinois' number one industry. The morning started off with a breakfast, featuring the dedication of the Illinois Department of Agriculture administration building as the John R. Block Building. Illinois HB 5540, sponsored by State Senator Darin LaHood and State Representative Don Moffitt, named the administration building after John Rusling Block, the only Illinois agriculture director to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. John Block said he was both “excited and humbled” that the Illinois Department of Agriculture building now bears his name.

Farm Director Joe Gill (KASM, 1150 AM, Albany, MN) broadcast “live” from the Minnesota State Fair this year at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. He spoke with Minnesota Ag Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “We spoke about many issues including a recent trade trip to Mexico, Avian Influenza, pollinators and more,” Joe said. 

For NAFB President Susan Littlefield, it's been a busy summer and early fall. “From watching three kids show livestock at the county fair to finishing up the season at the Nebraska State Fair, it’s been packed with family memories,” Susan said. “All three kids show sheep and my son, Paul, shows hogs as well,” she explained. “I got the chance to announce again this year at the Nebraska State Fair for the 4-H and FFA sheep and goat shows. The FFA Sheep Staff took it a step further, and we are starting to use #TeamSheep with the hopes of over the year promoting the show for FFA members.” (Susan is shown here with TeamSheep composed of Nebraska FFA Advisors who run the sheep show at the state fair.) New this year, the state fair added the Open Class Sheep Show announcing to Susan’s calendar. “It was great to be able to congratulate so many of my friends as they showed. At one point I would announce a class and run across the show ring to grab a sheep, show it, then announce the class winners and next class and grab another sheep!”