On March 27, Cyndi Young, Ag Operations Director for Brownfield, announced the additions of farm broadcasters Nicole Heslip and Mark Dorenkamp beginning this week to the Brownfield agriculture network team. Nicole is the Anchor/Reporter of Michigan Brownfield, the former Michigan Farm Radio Network. Nicole lives in Michigan and is providing on-the-ground coverage of Michigan agriculture. Mark is Anchor/Reporter of Minnesota Brownfield, which replaces former Minnesota Farm Network programming this week. Both will be backed by an award-winning team of 10 agricultural journalists, all Broadcast Council members of NAFB, along with an ag meteorologist, Washington, DC policy analyst and two market analysts.
NICOLE HESLIP…“We are excited to have Nicole heading up Brownfield’s coverage of Michigan agriculture,” Cyndi said. “She recognizes and embraces the diversity of agriculture in the state. Her passion and knowledge of the industry is inspiring.” Rooted in agriculture, Nicole grew up on her family’s dairy farm in southwest Michigan. She is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she majored in Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications, specializing in Agri-Business Management and Public Relations. Nicole is a past FFA State Officer, former Michigan Dairy Ambassador and National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow officer. Nicole was honored as the 2014 NAFB Horizon Award Winner. She sits on the Michigan Agriculture and Environmental Assurance (MAEAP) Communications Workgroup and blogs for the Michigan Ag Council.
MARK DORENKAMP…“It is a great pleasure to introduce veteran agricultural communicator Mark Dorenkamp as the Anchor/Reporter for Minnesota Brownfield,” Cyndi said. “His uncompromising level of integrity, passion for the agriculture industry and understanding of the people who are the backbone of the industry make him a true asset to the Brownfield team.” Mark grew up in a small town in north central Iowa. The family bin site on the south edge of Rowan is where he spent countless hours tagging along with his Dad, sitting in the cab of their John Deere 4840 pretending to haul a load of corn or soybeans to the scale before unloading. In 2006, Mark became Farm Director at a station in north Iowa, and the love affair he had with farming as a boy started all over again. As a farm broadcaster Mark won Iowa Broadcast News Association awards and in 2012 earned second place in the NAFB Market-cast category. Mark has been honored by Iowa State University Extension for his support of their programs, served on area agribusiness committees and recently served on the Iowa FFA Foundation Board of Directors. Mark and his wife, Melissa, and two sons, Gavin and Hudson, will reside in southern Minnesota.
Brownfield has partnerships with 23 affiliate radio stations in Michigan, and 36 affiliate radio stations in Minnesota. The network includes a grand total of more than 380 affiliate radio stations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado. In addition to giving more listeners the opportunity to hear Brownfield programs, this increase in coverage area provides even greater marketing opportunities for advertising partners. In addition to the radio network, Brownfield includes BrownfieldAgNews.com, the free daily e-mail newsletter Agriculture Today, and the Brownfield Mobile application.
