Shawna Olson has been in the television industry since 1999. “I started out as a general assignment reporter, anchor and eventually became a meteorologist for the NBC and CBS affiliates in Fargo, ND,” she said. “I left the television industry to pursue a career in agriculture about seven years ago. That's when I became the ag director for KFGO (Fargo, ND). Then the offer came to start up a new television program called Agweek TV. Agweek, the magazine, has been around for more than 30 years and the Forum Communication Company decided to expand the magazine into a television program.” Agweek TV has been on the air for 2 ½ years. It's a locally produced program, based on local farmers and ranchers. “We focus on news and amazing feature stories that tell the true story about agriculture and life on the farm. We offer a lot of unique ag news along with some entertaining stories.”

Shawna grew up on a farm near the Canadian Border in North Dakota. “We raised Simmental Cattle along with small grains. I spent a lot of my time on the farm riding in the combine with my dad or helping my mom bring meals to the field. I also spent much of the time having fun with my horses,” she said. Shawna is married and has two young children, a son, who is 3, and a daughter, who is almost 2. “I currently live on a hobby farm with my family and three horses. I never anticipated a career in ag. It fell into my lap when I was offered the position at KFGO to replace a legendary farm broadcaster, Larry Ristvedt. She concluded, “I had big shoes to fill, and hadn't been around ag for several years, so it was a leap of faith on my part when I took the job. I'm so glad I did, because I've met some of the most amazing people in ag and continue to do so. It's a career I hope to have for a long time.” 

Shawna Olson goes on location for an Agweek TV story in Hillsboro, ND, with Ben Miller, left, and Tim Kozojed of Bloomfield Enterprises.