Consultant Mike Parry Teams Up with
NAFB It's All for the Good of the Foundation NAFB 2008 President Randy Koenen invites you to listen to his President's Report...continued 2008 Officers and Directors of NAFB Announced
Jeff Nalley Lauded by Kentucky Farm Bureau Pam Fretwell Receives Missouri Farm Bureau Award Tom Steever Honored by Illinois Corn Growers
Association Recognizing people who have given of their time and talents to agriculture...continued Official 2008 Meeting Notice to Members
2008 NAFB Foundation Officers, Directors Set NAFB Calendar of Events New Member Listings eChats Formatted for Printing National Association of Farm Broadcasting | P.O. Box 500 | Platte City, MO 64079
Consultant Mike Parry Teams Up with
NAFB
"This is an exciting time for me," Mike said. "It's something I've really wanted to do, and it just fits with where I was going with the rest of my life. It's like coming home." Informational visits to agricultural and rural lifestyle marketers and agencies will be among his many responsibilities. Mike also will conduct seminars for members, and will play a role in recruiting new NAFB members at state broadcaster association meetings. "Mike is very familiar with production agriculture, and he and his family themselves are rural lifestylers," said Executive Director Bill O'Neill. "His business background with radio in NAFB geography, and as a motivational speaker and consultant, will be an asset to our marketing communications." Mike is a graduate of the Brown Institute of Broadcasting, Minneapolis, and got started in radio with on air/sales work at KATE in Albert Lea, MN, in the early 1980s. From 1985-88 he was the owner of KGHR-AM in Austin, MN., then spent eight years as the general manager of KIAQ-FM in Fort Dodge, IA. Most recently, he served as general manager of the Linder Radio Group, Mankato, MN. Early in his career, Mike was a staff sergeant in the Minnesota National Guard, then worked six years as a law enforcement officer. He has organized Tractorcades in southern Minnesota, and in the 1980s formed the We Care foundation in Fort Dodge to clean up the Des Moines River through that area. Born in Albert Lea, he was raised on a 240+ acre dairy farm. He remains a farm owner today. It's All for the Good of the Foundation
Evan, of the Evan Slack Network, based in Denver, CO. was the No. 2 revenue-raising buyer at the 2007 Foundation Auction. His purchase was an Altec Western-Electric 939B Microphone for $1,700. It was the first microphone he used during his first on-air position at KWTO in Springfield, Mo. "I started there in June of 1952. Loyd Evans gave me my start there," he recalled. "I did a three-minute livestock market report. I walked three miles round-trip daily." The non-paying position gave Evan the experience and exposure he needed. It wasn't long before he was offered his second on-air position, this time a paying one, at KGBX in Springfield. He remembers he used an RCA Mic at that station, and he bought that microphone at the 2006 Foundation Auction. While he admits to having a fondness for old radio microphones, he said he really is not a collector. He has only about half a dozen. The meaning behind them and the impact he makes by purchasing them is what's important. "Those two microphones are very meaningful and significant to me," Evan said. "That, and they helped me support the Foundation, which is my real motivation." For a list of the top 10 2007 NAFB Foundation Auction items that generated the most revenue, donors, and their buyers, click here. The Foundation still has a few of its 2007 Toy Tractors available for purchase. The tractor is a 1/12 scale-model replica Ford 901 Powermaster and sells for $75 plus shipping and handling. All profits go to the NAFB Foundation. You can place an order by clicking here. The NAFB Foundation performs charitable and educational functions that support and promote a positive future for the farm broadcasting industry. Since 1975, the Foundation has provided financial support and educational opportunities in the form of college scholarships to assist students in pursuit of careers in agricultural communications. President's Report  NAFB 2008 President Randy Koenen invites you to listen to his "President's Minute" by clicking here.
2008 Officers and Directors of NAFB Announced President President-Elect Vice-President Regional Vice Presidents West - Bob Bosold Management & Sales Council Representatives Denny Waddle Allied Industry Representatives Sally Behringer Historian Regional Directors South - Janet Adkison West - Kristi Pettis Jeff Nalley Lauded by Kentucky Farm Bureau For his dedication to farmers and his unending service to the field of agriculture, Jeff Nalley has been named the winner of the Kentucky Farm Bureau "Distinguished Service to Agriculture" award. He was honored during the KFB's 80th annual meeting held December 7 in Louisville.
"Everyone in agriculture listens to and respects Jeff," said Kevin Riecke, station manager for the Cromwell Radio Group. "One of the things that Jeff does so well is to be the liaison between the agricultural community and the community at large. His ag reports not only provide the most up-to-date and accurate facts, but they also put everything in terms that have relevance to everyone." Daviess County Farm Bureau nominated Jeff for the award, and the application included many letters of recommendation from prominent civic and agricultural leaders, including State Senator and former Agriculture Commissioner David E. Boswell, State Representative Tommy Thompson, Daviess County Judge-Executive Reid Haire and Bill Kuegel, Sr., a Daviess County farmer who was last year's recipient of the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award. So what does this award mean to Jeff? "There's not a higher honor than when you receive an
award from farmers," he said. "It's proof of the
relationship between producer and broadcaster." Pam Fretwell Receives Missouri Farm Bureau Award
The award recognizes individuals for their commitment to the field of agriculture, and is the highest honor bestowed by the organization. "I don't know how I can receive a greater award than this," Pam said. "Missouri is my home state, so this has a great significance to me." Pam has been a farm broadcaster for eight years and currently serves as Farm Services Director at WTAD/WKAN in Quincy, Ill.. She was born and raised in Liberty, Mo., but farmed for 26 years in northeast Missouri. She worked as one of the first professional sales representatives in the Pioneer Hi-Bred company and developed a software program that sales professionals still use today when talking with farmers in the field. She has received many awards for telling the story of agriculture. Only eight months into her career in broadcasting, she was honored with the Silver Dome Award for Excellence in Broadcasting from the Illinois Broadcaster's Association. She considers her greatest accomplishment her three children and four grandchildren. Another grandchild is expected in February. Illinois Corn Growers Association Salutes Tom Steever
"I was really surprised by this," said Tom, after he accepted the award. "The fact that it came from producers so effective at communicating their story, and the story of such a useful commodity, makes this an even bigger honor." Tom joined Brownfield in 2003 and in 2006-07 served as South Regional Vice President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Minnesota Farm Bureau Honors Linda Brekke
The Ag Communicator of the Year award is presented to an outstanding leader in the field of communications. This year, the award was presented to two recipients: Linda Brekke of the Linder Farm Network and Brad Swenson of the Bemidji Pioneer. Prior to receiving this award, Linda also received the "Volunteer of the Year" award from Farm America, Minnesota's Ag Interpretive Center in Waseca.
Official 2008 Meeting Notice to Members
The 2008 Annual Membership Meeting of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, at the Westin Crown Center hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. That all-member meeting will be followed by the Broadcast Council Business Meeting. Voting members of the Broadcast Council, to meet their 2008 membership eligibility requirement, may also or alternately attend the scheduled Business Meeting to be held Monday, April 28, in Washington DC, in coordination with the 2008 Washington Watch event and program. The meeting will be at the Holiday Inn Capitol. The times of the meetings will be announced.
Officers:
President Vice President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Board Members: Ken Anderson Randy Koenen Greg Akagi Rich Hull Gene Hemphill Pam Jahnke George Logan Katherine Trent
American Farm Bureau Federation
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Association of Conservation Districts National Farm
Machinery Show USDA
Agricultural Outlook Forum Commodity
Classic East Region South Region
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Joining
forces with NAFB is like "coming home" to Mike Parry.
The consultant and independent contractor, based in
Waseca, MN, will represent NAFB member stations and
networks in making marketing, research and educational
presentations during 2008. 
Participating
in the annual NAFB Foundation Auction is an easy way to
support the Foundation's efforts, according to Evan Slack.
But for the past two years, the event also has taken Evan on
a trip to his past. 
The
Missouri Farm Bureau named Pam Fretwell a recipient
of its "Outstanding Service to Agriculture" award during its
93rd Annual Meeting held December 3 in Osage Beach. 
Tom
Steever was recently honored with
the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) "2007 Excellence
in Broadcast Media" award. Tom was presented the award
at during the ICGA annual meeting in Bloomington, Illinois
on November 20. 
Recognizing people who have given of their time and
talents to agriculture was the focus of the Minnesota
Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Awards Banquet held November 17 during the 89th Annual Meeting at
the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington. The
awards banquet included both individual and county
honors in a variety of categories.