NAFB Blog

Tim Marshall has been named Chief Operating Officer of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, according to NRRA General Manager Craig Larson. "Tim has been with the company for nearly five years and has done an excellent job leading KRVN. Now, we're asking him to oversee some of the day-to-day operations within the company,” Craig said. The NRRA is the only farmer and rancher owned radio group in the country.

The Red River Farm Network has a redesigned website focused on the original reporting of the RRFN team of agricultural journalists. The updated www.rrfn.com has a clean design and improved functionality. The site features news for farmers, ranchers and agricultural stakeholders. In addition, RRFN news stories can now be easily shared through social media, e-mail and more. “One month into the relaunch and the response is very positive,” said Don Wick, president, Red River Farm Network. “The updated website complements our on-air news, delivering information that impacts the bottom line for our farmers and ranchers.” The responsive website design is user-friendly on a variety of devices including personal computer, tablet or smartphone. In addition, it is easy to find news reports and podcasts with the new mobile version. The site also offers online access to radio stations carrying RRFN programming. For additional information, contact the Red River Farm Network at 701-795-1315 or don@rrfn.com. Digital advertising options are available.

The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF)has announced winners of the 2018 Celebration of Service to America Awards, recognizing outstanding community service by local broadcasters. Winners will be honored at the Celebration of Service to America dinner on June 12 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. “Local broadcasters play a crucial role in informing, supporting and strengthening communities across our country,” said NABEF President Marcellus Alexander. “This year’s winners represent the ethos of broadcasting and the industry’s unwavering commitment to public service. We look forward to honoring these outstanding stations in the nation’s capital.”

Rita Frazer (RFD Radio Network, Bloomington, IL) said, “As I prepare to celebrate my 50^th birthday, I am honored to have the opportunity to share a few highlights from the RFD Radio Network’s (RFDRN) 50^th anniversary celebration.” She explains, “The celebration included special features in our monthly newsletter that shared stories about the broadcasters that built the network. Farm broadcasters like Dick Helton and Art Sechrest broke in the microphones at the network, making way for farm voices like Max Armstrong. Armstrong grew up on an Indiana farm before heading to Purdue University. While in college he started his radio career working part-time at WASK (Lafayette, IN), WRAY (Princeton, IN), and WVMC (Mount Carmel, IL).

AG CENTRAL RADIO NETWORK IS ON THE AIR – Mick Kjar reports that the Ag Central Radio Network is on the air. This network covers North and South Dakota and adjacent areas of western Minnesota.  “It’s a little different than your normal or traditional radio network.  Yes, we do farm news; in fact, nine three-minute reports and nine 90-second reports daily,” he said.   “But stations can carry these as they fit into their programming, and not at a regular ‘hit time’ as is usually done on a radio network.” Mick adds, “The same format for weather programming is offered, with five longer version weather analysis programs and hourly 30-second weather forecasts 24 hours a day, and again, stations air the weather programs when it fits into their programming.”