NAFB Blog

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts plans two international and two domestic trade missions a year as part of his mission to grow Nebraska. Jesse Harding (KRVN/Rural Radio Network, Lexington, NE) traveled with the first mission hosted by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Department of Economic Development. For the Governor’s first international trade mission, the delegation went to Italy, Belgium and Denmark. The goals were to meet with companies who already use Nebraska products, have trade talks and to hopefully bring business into the state. Jesse was invited to join the mission as the only media participant. She said her most interesting takeaways came from visiting with European officials about American and Nebraska agriculture.

“Titles have changed this past year for the three of us that make up the RFD Radio Team,” reports Rita Frazer (RFD Radio Network®, Bloomington, IL). “In January, I became the Director of Network and Audio Services as Alan Jarand (seated) transitioned from Director to Part-time Audio Specialist. We feel very lucky to have Alan remain on the team with his golden voice, wisdom and institutional knowledge.” She added, “Kansas native DeLoss Jahnke joined our team in March of this year. It has only been a few months since he joined us here in Bloomington, but it feels like we have worked together forever. DeLoss and I have so much in common, including a love for farmers, agriculture, a passion for farm broadcasters and NAFB.

Veteran Illinois Broadcaster, Hayward Talley passes away. Talley who with a partner put WSMI (Litchfield, IL) on the air in 1950, has died at age 91. His son Brian is running the show now, but Mr. Talley was active in the station’s management and operation until late 2013.

Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News, Jefferson City, MO) has been covering agriculture and consumer news for Brownfield since 2007. This has included events in her home state of Missouri and beyond – from Washington, DC, to Germany. Also, she produces a daily, 90-second consumer education program, Healthy Living, aimed at informing consumers about food and nutrition, striving to dispel commonly held misconceptions about them.

While a Texas A&M University student, Don Atkinson (First Oklahoma Ag, Voice of Southwest Agriculture (VSA) and Yancey Ag Network, Oklahoma City, OK) had nearly 10 years of broadcasting experience under his belt when the on-campus office of the Extension Service hired him. Previously, he had worked as a disc jockey, news writer, copy writer and producer. Working in the Texas A&M radio-television unit, Don helped write and produce a weekly agricultural radio show for two years.