NAFB Blog

Ben Jarboe was hired by Mid-West Farm Report as a farm broadcaster on July 15.

Jarboe grew up on a row crop farm in central Illinois, where his family raised corn and soybeans. He knew from a young age that he wanted to stay in agriculture when he grew up.

“I remember riding along with my grandpa or uncle on the tractor, and that was all I wanted to do,” Jarboe said.

MOLINO HONORED BY LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION – Don Molino, senior farm broadcaster for the Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network, received the Michael Danna/Reginal Wallace Ag Communicator of the Year Award from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation in June 2024.

Shelly Legg, professor of agricultural communications at Oklahoma State University, received the Distinguished Educator Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture organization. She is an Allied Industry Council member of NAFB.

Legg grew up in northeast Oklahoma on a cow-calf operation, and she knew from an early age that she would end up in an agricultural career.

Andy Schwab, farm broadcaster for Northern Ag Network, received the Portavoz Award on July 13 at the 2nd Annual Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival. 

The Portavoz Award recognizes outstanding year-long coverage of the sheep industry by a media professional who has exhibited a strong commitment to fair, balanced, and consistent reporting locally, statewide, and/or nationally. 

Brett McRae, farm broadcaster for Northern Ag Network, traveled to Colombia for ten days in June on an agriculture trade mission. 

“The Montana Department of Agriculture and the Montana Pulse Crop Committee organized the trip,” McRae said. “Colombia is the sixth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products, and the country is an important market for U.S. pulse crops. Montana happens to be the largest producer of pulse crops in the U.S.”

 The trade mission was set up to build beneficial relationships.