The first person to sit behind the Red River Farm Network (RRFN) microphone is retiring. Mike Hergert (RRFN, Grand Forks, ND) is an NAFB Hall of Fame (2015) broadcaster who co-founded the company and has been its guiding force over the past 21-plus years.

“Balancing our demanding farm broadcasting jobs and schedules can be tricky when it comes to parenting and finding time for actual hobbies,” said Lorrie Boyer (KSIR, Fort Morgan, CO). In addition to running a morning show and producing ag newscasts and market reports daily, Lorrie works hard to find balance.

In early 2016, corporate restructuring in RFD TV brought Janet Adkison back to Tennessee, but she kept one foot in the nation’s capital, traveling back for various events. This summer the change is official. Janet is now full-time on the anchor desk welcoming our audience each morning during the Market Day Report and nightly during the Rural Evening News.

Joe Daughhetee (WITY, Danville, IL) graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a BS in accounting and an MS in business. Joe has been in private industry accounting with experience in cost accounting, and for the past 25 years, in public accounting.

At his Montana Ag Summit on June 1 in Great Falls, MT, U.S. Senator Steve Daines honored former three-term U.S. Senator and Farm Broadcaster, the late Conrad Burns, by naming a special new award after him. Before about 700 attendees, Senator Daines presented his first-ever Conrad Burns Ag Technology Award, saying that throughout his life “Senator Conrad Burns was an advocate for technology to bring connectivity to Montana.

On June 21, the Wisconsin State Assembly recognized Brian Winnekins (WRDN, Durand, WI) for his election to serve as President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting for the 2016 term. Winnekins owns and operates WRDN, 1430 AM, Reel Country, and his station has worked hard to promote local agriculture, an $88 billion dollar per year industry in Wisconsin.

Are you about to get knee-deep in fairs and festivals? This busy time of year is also a very enjoyable one, meeting the people who follow our broadcasts, as we help recognize the young people of the community for their work and achievements. And while the days at the fairgrounds can be long and draining, I am certain many of you appreciate the opportunity to cover these remarkable volunteer-driven events. And it is one more instance where many members of NAFB play a critical role in the local community.

2002 NAFB President COLLEEN CALLAHAN BURNS was one of three Distinguished Service Award recipients honored by the University of Illinois at the 2017 Commencement activities in May. Bestowed upon alumni, faculty, staff and friends by the UI Alumni Association on behalf of the University, the award is presented to individuals or couples whose consistent, exceptional and meritorious service to the University of Illinois (U of I) has made a significant impact on the institution’s overall welfare and the advancement of its mission.

Jerry Passer (Brownfield Network, Cedar Rapids, IA) came out of retirement in October 2002, signing a six-month agreement to cover livestock markets for Brownfield. Now, nearly 15 years later, the veteran farm broadcaster is hanging up his microphone at the end of June.

“Connecting with our agriculture audience is critical to being a successful farm broadcaster, but it can also have its pitfalls,” said Pam Jahnke (WI Farm Report Radio Network, Madison, WI). She reports that in April, 58 Wisconsin dairy farms of all sizes, got an unsigned, impersonal letter from their dairy processor announcing that as of May 1, they’d no longer have a home for their milk.