For the past 10 months there has been a new, second voice sharing agricultural markets and news with farmers in Wisconsin. Kristin Smith joined WAXX 104.5 FM/WAYY 105.1 FM, Midwest Family Broadcasting’s Eau Claire farm department as the assistant farm director helping NAFB Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Bosold with the daily and weekly chores. 

April President's Update
Max Armstrong, 2017 NAFB President

We are rapidly approaching Washington Watch, and I am very excited about it, quite frankly. Assuming our new Agriculture Secretary is confirmed by then, he will be with us. We have been assured White House Ag Advisor Ray Starling will be joining us as well. When you add in the lawmakers, their staff members, the Federal Communications Commission visit and other opportunities, it totals up to a great, jam-packed three days.

Ron Hays (Radio Oklahoma Network/KGGF Radio, Oklahoma City, OK) explains conditions that led to this disaster. “Late winter and early spring is always a dangerous time for wildfire in Oklahoma, and after good rainfall last year in northwestern Oklahoma, we had a lot of standing grass that was dry and ready to burn, so it was not a surprise when we got word of these fires in southwest Kansas, northwest Oklahoma and over the line in the northeastern corner of the Texas Panhandle.” 

Dillon Davis (The AgWatch Network, Jonesboro, AR) was born in a small town in northeast Arkansas. In his youth, he spent a lot of his time pretending to be a radio host or anchorman while helping his grandfather tend to their farm. After high school graduation, Dillon attended Arkansas State University where he majored in broadcast journalism.

Dedicated to delivering agriculture news to U.S. farmers and ranchers, farm broadcasters provide daily news coverage on topics critical to the industry. Farm broadcasters are up before the sun, providing stories focused as much on production ag as helping to bridge the gap between farmer and consumer, lending insight and knowledge to their listener. 

Mayor KayDee Gilkey (Ag Information Network of the West, Fairfield, WA) puts down her gavel as mayor to pick up her mike as a farm broadcaster.

When Ken Rahjes is not wearing his broadcasting hat (agview.net, Agra, KS) he is working as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives. To the question of what is on the pulse of farmers, he said, “This could be described as ‘the winter of our discontent’ as it has lacked moisture in the form of snow or even rain. The warm temperatures have some farmers itching to start with field work. In fact, in mid-February we saw some anhydrous ammonia being applied. It looks like this will be a year when the wheat will use up many lives to make it to harvest.” 

“Well, if you’ll look on our website, you’ll find all the details right there.” That’s how our executive director gracefully explained to me that if I took the time to explore NAFB.com, all I needed to know was right at my fingertips. He was right. 

Have you done that lately? Have you really looked around on our site? Other than seeking the contact information for other members or utilizing the outstanding resources and feeds of our News Service, have you taken a dive down into what else is there? I hope you will.

Current NAFB President Max Armstrong (Penton Agriculture, WGN Radio, and This Week in AgriBusiness) and Past NAFB President Mark Oppold (RFD-TV and Rural Media Group) were among the drivers of 13 tractors that composed the Rural Tractor Brigade.

Sara Steever (President, Paulsen Agriculture and NAFB Allied Industry Council member) asks the question, “Do you know any young women considering their education and career options? That's precisely the audience for Spark: Women in Agribusiness, a podcast series that profiles some of the most accomplished women in agriculture.” She explains, “The podcast series came about because I believe it's important to encourage young women to consider agriculture for their life's work.