Ed Slusarczyk, founder of Ag Radio Network, was a commercial farm broadcaster more than 68 years. He grew up on a dairy farm near Prospect, NY loving radio, pretending he was a radio announcer when he was only 4. In 1938 Ed began reporting news of the Oneida and Lewis County FFA chapters on WIBX, Utica, NY.

When World War II started Ed built machine guns until enlisting in the Army in 1942. He survived the Normandy invasion in 1944, but was severely wounded in the battle of St. Lo. Recovery from a shattered left leg and ribs took nearly two years at the army hospital in Martinsburg, WV. A doctor suggested broadcasting as therapy. So, even while bedridden, he did a daily 30-minute program of farm news and sports on Armed Forces station WNDB.

The Slusarczyk family formed Ag Radio Network in 1976, starting with 11 stations. Ed reached his goal of "providing a voice for farmers in the Northeast" in 2002 when 144 stations were affiliated with Ag Radio Network, covering the Northeast from Maryland to Maine.

Ed Slusarczyk was NAFB regional vice president four times and chaired many committees. His awards and recognitions cover walls in more than one room. They include 1985 Farm Broadcaster of the Year, "Champion of Democracy" awarded by the Polish government in 1990, and NAFB Hall of Fame in 2002.

Condolences to the family may be sent to:
Ag Radio Network, Inc.
PO Box 437
Utica, NY 13503

Friends are also encouraged to send contributions to the Ed Slusarczyk Scholarship Fund that has been established in his memory. Checks should be made out to the NAFB Foundation and sent to:
National Association of Farm Broadcasting
Attn: NAFB Foundation/Ed Slusarczyk Scholarship
P.O. Box 500
Platte City, MO 64079

You may read the article on Ed's passing in the Utica Observer Dispatch here.

Some NAFB members shared their thoughts on Ed Slusarczyk:

"Ed will long be remembered in the industry as a true farm broadcasting pioneer and entrepreneur with the vision to develop his own farm radio network. His success was directly tied to his desire to serve his agricultural listeners and bring them the news and information they needed on a daily basis to run their businesses. His passion for the industry and NAFB have and will continue to serve as model for all of the professional farm broadcasters in the business. He will truly be missed by his NAFB family." Michelle Rook, 2006 NAFB President, WNAX Radio

"This is sad news to all our NAFB family. I enjoyed having lunch and (our) last good visit with Mr. Ed during the Trade Talks informal luncheon in Kansas City last November. He was one of the old time farm broadcasters who kept up with the times and contributed to a changing world. We will indeed miss him." Jerry Lackey, Voice of Southwest Agriculture

2006 State of Radio

About a year ago, I gave you the "2005 State of Radio Address," Here is the "2006 Slate of Radio" according to Kyle Bauer.

Ipods will not kill radio. Neat deal but will it affect CD sales more than radio. It takes too much energy and management for busy people over a long term. It is the same listener that bought a cassette Walkman 15 years ago, and a CD Walkman 10 years ago, and an mp3 player 3 years ago.

Young people do listen to radio. It might depend on what you call young, but ask any male from 25-35 if he heard about what was on the sports talk show and he will tell you. The content will drive the listener.

Satellite radio will not take over. They are finally at 1% penetration. They are still losing $10s of millions per month. Resubscription rates after the first year are 52% -- pretty hard to grow at that rate. By next year, there will be one company.

Internet radio will grow. With the increase in mobile Internet, people can listen to "their station" wherever they are. I have a farmer in Indiana that listens to our stream every day on his Blackberry. That will be your radio.

Kyle Bauer
KFRM Radio, Clay Center, Kansas

Reprinted with permission from AgriMarketing magazine.

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