One of Farm Radio's Pioneers Passes  

Layne Beaty, the third president of NAFB (known at the time as the National Association of Radio Farm Directors) and the first person ever voted a Lifetime Voting Membership in NAFB, died May 11. His wife Virginia, daughter Sandy Cantrell, son Bill and twin stepsons, a number of grandchildren, other relatives and uncounted friends survive him.

Layne was born January 2, 1914 in Caddo, OK, the son of a bookkeeper. He grew up in Durant and graduated from Ardmore high school. At Southeastern State Teachers College in Durant, OK Layne majored in journalism, writing for local papers. He stayed on at the college, after getting his degree in 1935, to handle publicity. Two years later he joined the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, where he learned about the structure of agriculture and spent time in every one of the state's 77 counties. His radio career began in 1939 when WKY, Oklahoma City, invited this pioneer to write and air a 30-minute weekly program.

Texas lured Layne south in 1942 to be information specialist for the Farm Security Administration. Eleven months later WBAP, Fort Worth, asked him to be their farm editor. Layne first spent a week at WLS, Chicago, studying Art Page and his successful program. He was on hand when farm broadcasters organized and became NARFD in 1945. Layne broadcast from Mexico during the 1947 outbreak of hoof and mouth disease. He wrote and syndicated a weekly column carried in 35 Texas newspapers. He was one of the first to conduct a farm study tour, taking 21 farmers and ranchers to five South American countries on Pan Am in 1950.

Television arrived in 1948 on WBAP, and Layne began using this new medium for farm and garden programs.

With his first wife and two young children, Layne Beaty moved to Europe in 1951 to work on the Marshall Plan, spending two years in Greece as information advisor. Then he moved to Paris to work with Wallace Kadderly, another former NAFB president recruited to assist with the Marshall Plan.

Back in Washington, DC in late 1954, Layne escorted a group of Latin journalists on a two-month study tour of the United States. In January 1954, Layne became chief, radio and television for the USDA. He was heard weekly on NBC's "National Farm and Home Hour." He also voiced "Agriculture USA" for the Clear Channel Broadcasters Association. Through his friendship with the president of NBC, Layne gained access to WRC-TV studios to produce and host "Across the Fence," a national television program. Working with Jack Towers, Layne launched the USDA Agri-Tape service that eventually reached a peak 4,000 tapes each week.

A lover of travel and always curious, Layne lived to explore new places and new routes. His daughter said he was proud of having spent at least one night in every state and having visited 45 countries.

When Layne retired in 1980, NAFB presented to him the Meritorious Service Award. He was inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame in 1988. George Logan, who started by working at WLW, Cincinnati, and the USDA, said, "Two of the most important mentors in my life were my first two bosses...Bob Miller and Layne Beaty. It's hard to lose them both in one month."

 

At Layne's Memorial Service Reception (from left to right) Sandy Beaty Cantrell (daughter), Larry Quinn of USDA, Bill Beaty (son) and Steven Sabol (nephew).

 

 

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Strategic Planning Committee Moving Forward With Its Work

NAFB's Strategic Planning Committee continues its work on a 3- to 5-year plan to identify mission, purpose, key goals and objectives, guiding the Association to "reach" for its future.

Hugh Whaley (right) shares a thought with John Vasichek

The Committee met May 11 in Des Moines at the offices of the National Pork Board, courtesy of Allied Industry Council vice chair Cindy Cunningham. Chairperson Hugh Whaley will host the Committee at Osborn & Barr's Kansas City office for meetings June 2-26. The group first met April 12 in Dallas.

In addition to Allied Industry Council representatives Hugh and Cindy, the Broadcast Council is represented by NAFB Past President Colleen Callahan and Kristi Pettis, and the Management and Sales Council by John Vasichek and Stan Koenigsfeld. The planning process is being facilitated ably by Janice Dahl of Anchor Management Group, St. Louis.

The Committee is currently building out objectives and strategies for each of five principal goals identified for NAFB. The Committee intends to present a Strategic Plan draft to the Board of Directors at their July 30 meeting in Louisville.

 

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Neil Trobak Celebrates 50 Years at KCIM Radio

Neil Trobak's 50-year anniversary with KCIM Radio/Carroll Broadcasting Company was May 20, 2007. He has been a member of NAFB for the last 20 of those years.

A celebration open house is scheduled for June 1. There will be cake, cookies, punch, and some special memories of Neil's career. Prior to the event, "Neil  stories" were submitted from various listeners and clients of the station and many were recorded into a congratulations greeting.

Look for more photos and coverage of this event in next month's eChats.

President's Report

NAFB 2007 President Pam Fretwell invites you to listen to her President's Report by clicking here.

Randy Koenen Headed to North Dakota

On the move from Nebraska to North Dakota is Randy Koenen, NAFB President-Elect. He joins the farm broadcasting team at Red River Farm Network in Grand Forks, ND on July 1.

Randy said, "I'm excited about the opportunity to work with Don Wick, Mike Hergert and the rest of the staff at RRFN. It's not every day that someone has the chance to work with their mentors, and Don and Mike are truly that. They've been my mentors since I started in this business."

RRFN President John Vasichek said, "His real-life experience in production agriculture and accomplishments in farm broadcasting will make Randy a wonderful addition to our organization."

Randy has served since 2001 as Farm Director at KTIC/KWPN in Westpoint, NE, for the Rural Radio Network. Prior to that, he was a farm broadcaster at KDJS (Willmar, MN). Randy grew up on a corn, soybean, spring wheat and sugar beet farm in west central Minnesota. He began farming with his father while still in high school and continued to farm with him until 1998.

Based in Grand Forks, ND, the Red River Farm Network covers agriculture in Minnesota and North Dakota through a network of 14 radio stations.

As featured in last month's eChats, Chad Moyer began working with KTIC of the Rural Radio Network on April 9. He will be taking over Randy's responsibilities.

Ohio Ag Net Hires Dale Minyo as Broadcaster

The Ohio Ag Net is owned by AgriCommunicators, which was founded in 1972 by the late Ed Johnson. Today, the company is operated by his son, Bart Johnson, who is also publisher of Ohio's Country Journal.

Ohio Ag Net has 19 affiliated radio stations with 13-year farm broadcasting veteran Dale Minyo behind the mike to bring farm news and information to Ohio producers. Dale was raised on a 157-acre poultry and cow-calf farm in northwest Nobel County, and he served as president of the Ohio FFA Association in 1983-84. Bart and Dale were college classmates, and Dale's first TV interview was on the Johnson family farm where Ed interviewed him when he became state FFA president.

Upon graduation in 1989 with an agricultural economics degree from The Ohio State University, Dale began his radio and TV broadcasting career with AgriCommunicators. He was a farm broadcaster for Clear Channel, Inc. from 2001 until February 2007. In his spare time, he is an instructor for Dale Carnegie Courses in central Ohio, and he helps coach his two sons in a variety of sports.

Ken Root Named Rural Iowa's Ambassador of the Year

Mark Reisinger, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, has recognized WHO-AM's Ken Root as the Rural Iowa Ambassador of the Year.

"Ken has been a true ambassador for rural Iowa since the moment he first came to Iowa in January 2005," Reisinger said. "Through his insightful interviews and reporting, Ken has promoted rural economic growth and community improvement, as well as visionary leaders and businesses throughout rural Iowa."

Root is a 28-year veteran of farm broadcasting. He joined WHO-AM in Des Moines as the lead farm broadcaster in January 2005 and is also co-host of "The Big Show" along with Mark Pearson and Bob Quinn. Prior to coming to WHO-AM, Root was executive director of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.

"Iowa is truly blessed to have someone of Ken's experience reporting on all that is happening in rural Iowa," Reisinger said. "He has a special ability to report news and information of the day in a way that plants ideas for new opportunities and growth in rural Iowa."

Abraham Lincoln National Agricultural Awards Launched

Perhaps no single industry had a greater impact on Abraham Lincoln than agriculture, and no single President made a more lasting contribution to agriculture than the nation's 16th President. To honor those ties, a national agricultural awards program is being launched for those across the country who have left their mark, like Honest Abe, on the agricultural landscape.

Recipients of the inaugural Abraham Lincoln National Agricultural Awards will be honored at the Farm Progress Show on August 28 with a 23-inch statuette of Honest Abe made by renowned Lincoln sculptor John McClarey, during a noon presentation.

Nominations and applications are being sought through June 29 for five award categories, including ag education, technology, agri-business, an individual agriculturalist, and an ag legislator.

Awards will be presented to individuals, companies, businesses, organizations, or educational institutions that exhibit exemplary leadership and achievement in the five categories listed above.

Nomination and application forms are available online here. For more information, contact Kim Bauer at (217) 424-2779 or email him at kbauer@decaturnet.org; or contact Cindy Laegeler at (217) 875-7211, ext. 577 or email her at claegele@richland.edu. 

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NAFB Calendar of Events

World Pork Expo
June 7-9, 2007
Des Moines, IA

NACAA Annual Meeting/Professional Improvement Conference
July 15-19, 2007
Grand Rapids, MI

Cattle Industry Summer Conference
July 17-20, 2007
Denver, CO

Ag Media Summit
July 28-August 1, 2007
Louisville, KY

Farm Progress Show
August 28-30, 2007
Decatur, IL

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