Farm Director Janelle Tucker (KMCH, Manchester, IA) also serves as the station’s news director and on-air host. She grew up as a farm girl in rural Dyersville, IA, the home of The Field of Dreams. “My parents operated a dairy farm, so I had the opportunity at a young age to get involved with chores and field work. I was in 5th grade when a tornado destroyed my grandparents' home, which fueled my obsession with weather.” Janelle said. “With hopes of becoming a TV meteorologist, I attended Iowa State University, where I graduated with a major in journalism and mass communication and a minor in meteorology.” After an internship at a local TV station, she realized she wanted to stay close to home and decided to pursue a career in local radio. “When a News Director position opened up at a station just 15 minutes from Dyersville, I jumped. And I've been there ever since.” Along with having an air shift four hours a day and serving as the News Director (KMCH has a one-person news department), the titles of Farm Director and Assistant Program Director were added to her responsibilities. “I provide an ag news segment called The Ag Informer that airs three times each weekday, plus we provide market updates several times a day and broadcast other programs such as the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network (with local Dyersville resident Ken Root). I love covering our local commodity groups such as the Delaware County Pork Producers, Cattlemen and Dairy Council – all extremely active in our area.” Janelle emphasizes, “But my favorite part of covering our ag community is a contest we call ‘KMCH, Bring Me My Lunch.’

We invite local farmers to enter the contest by providing their name and cell phone number. Then, each weekday at 9:30 a.m. for three weeks during the harvest season each fall, we call one of those farmers and IF they answer their phone by saying, ‘KMCH, Bring Me My Lunch,’ we do just that! We deliver them lunch for four from one of the area restaurants right to their farm or field. Sometimes they answer wrong by saying, ‘Hello,’ but after years of doing this, many farmers are waiting by their phone hoping we will call. This contest is by far our most popular one of the year. Everybody loves it even those who aren’t farmers. It gives us a chance to visit with our farming audience and show our appreciation.” Interviewing 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors is something she does each summer at the Delaware County Fair for a segment called Meet the Champions. Janelle served three years on the Delaware County Pork Producers and Porkettes Association (as an associate member representing KMCH). She’s been a member of NAFB for three years, and has been honored by the Iowa Broadcast News Association for her local ag news coverage. Janelle Tucker interviews Little Dairy Royalty at the Delaware County Dairy Banquet.