Brownfield

Visiting the United States Department of Agriculture

While in Washington, D.C. this week for National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch, Ken Anderson had the opportunity to see the People's Garden at USDA. 

He also found himself in the midst of a protest on his way in to the USDA building Monday morning.  About 200 black farmers, mostly from Southern states, protested Tuesday in front of the Department of Agriculture, calling on lawmakers, President Barack Obama and federal agriculture officials to live up to a promise last year to pay black farmers $100 million for years of discrimination by the agency.

Observations from D.C.

 Brownfield's Ken Anderson is in Washington, D.C. this week participating in the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Washington Watch program.  He's been very busy:

There’s certainly no shortage of issues to discuss here in Washington.  Of course, the H1N1 flu virus has become the number one topic, but several others are close behind, including animal rights, climate, ethanol and animal ID, just to name a few.

On Monday night, we heard from Wayne Pacelle, head of the HSUS.  He was just as advertised—articulate, smooth and a bit evasive on HSUS’s real objectives.  Pacelle bemoaned what he considers unfair ag media coverage of HSUS.  He says his group wants to work with agriculture to find solutions to animal welfare and animal abuse issues, and he thinks it’s a mistake for the livestock industry to “draw a line in the sand” on negotiations with HSUS.  It’s obvious that Pacelle and HSUS are feeling their oats after their ballot initiative victories in California and Arizona, and Pacelle make it clear that they plan to go state-by-state with their reforms.

We spent Wednesday morning at the USDA.  Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack spent 30 minutes with us, followed by a parade of other top USDA officials.  Vilsack addressed the flu virus issue, but we were told that other officials would not be commenting on the topic.  It was clear that Washington officials are carefully controlling what is being said about it.  Vilsack covered many other issues with us, which we look forward to sharing with our listeners and web visitors over the next few days.

Tomorrow we head to Capitol Hill, where we will hear from several key Senator and Representatives, including the heads of the Senate (Harkin) and House (Peterson) Agriculture Committees.

Foreign corresponding

Bayer CropScience invited seven media representatives along on the 2009 Herbicide Innovations Tour in Germany last week.  The three farm broadcasters posed for a picture with Bayer CropScience hosts at the company's Frankfurt headquarters. 

Cyndi Young, farm broadcaster;  Hans Kraehmer, Research Herbicides - Head of Profiling & Safeners; Meghan Grebner, farm broadcaster; Michelle Rook, farm broadaster; Jeff Springsteen, Marketing Manager, Corn Herbicides; Hans Santel, Global Product Development Manager, Corn Herbicides.

NAFBers at Bayer CropScience 2009 Ag Issues Forum

Members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting invited to the Bayer CropScience 2009 Ag Issues Forum gathered together for a photo.  There are also a number of our print publication ag journalist friends here participating in this awesome event.
 

One of our good friends is retiring

The focus of this blog is to share a "behind the scenes" at Brownfield Ag News.  Cliff Mitchell has never been a member of the Brownfield Ag News team, but he has very much been a part of many of our lives for many of the years we've been involved in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.  Many of us have been interviewed by Cliff in the wee hours of the morning for one of his radio programs.  Cliff is retiring.  Here's the official release from NAFB:

After 56 years on the air, Cliff Mitchell, NAFB Hall of Famer and morning voice of KASM Radio, has retired from the station. He broadcast his last show on Dec. 31.

Cliff spent his entire broadcast career at KASM in Albany, Minn., after attending Brown Institute for broadcasting in the Twin Cities. Being a radio personality was one of three career aspirations Cliff had growing up. The others were a cowboy and fireman, and he accomplished both of these as well. He followed the rodeo for a year and a half and became a volunteer fireman after he started his radio career.

He said his favorite part of being a broadcaster was the people.

"I enjoyed the guests I interviewed and the people I associated with," he said. "When it would rain here I would have 40 or 50 calls from people in different locations telling me how much rain they got so I could report it."

Cliff received numerous awards and honors over the years for his excellence and dedication to the field. He was inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame in 2005, and into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame (Minnesota) in 2002. He was named North Central Region Farm Broadcaster of the Year by NAFB and Non-Metro Broadcast Personality of the Year by the Minnesota Broadcasters Association.

He joined NAFB in 1984 and was active at the annual Conventions. One of his fondest memories is helping to start the annual NAFB Foundation Auction.

Members who would like to keep in touch with Cliff can e-mail him at bigmouth@clearwire.com.
A recent edition of the St. Cloud Times includes an article about Cliff. You can access it at http://www.sctimes.com/article/20090101/NEWS01/101010040.

Traveling Tom

Executive Director for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), Bill O'Neil, recently contacted Brownfeild Ag News for a few photos of Tom Steever to use on promotional material.  Tom received an email from Bill and attached was a photo of the new NAFB banner.  We think it looks great!

NAFB Foundation Board looking to the future

For many years, I have been a part of what I consider a very special group of people with a very special mission.  The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation has, in my opinion, accomplished some great things in the past.  We fund scholarships and internship grants as well as research and the creation of educational materials to promote the future of agricultural communications - specifically ag broadcasting.  We held a board meeting last Tuesday evening, prior to the kick-off of NAFB Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Our fearless leader (President of the Foundation) Taylor Brown from Northern Ag Network in Billings, Montana could not be with us as he was recently elected to serve as a state senator and had some training sessions to attend.  So as Vice President, I chaired a meeting that included discussion and ultimately approval of some major policy changes that include changes in board size, term limits, and representation.  It's all very different and very exciting as we implement some of those changes suggested by those who have worked with us in strategic planning.

Pictured left to right:  George Logan, J/G Enterprises, Tecumseh, Kansas;  Greg Akagi, NAFB President-Elect, Topeka, Kansas;  Ken Anderson, Brownfield Ag News/Waitt Agribusiness, Lincoln, Nebraska; Terry Henne, Foundation Treasurer, Saginaw, Michigan; Randy Koenen, NAFB President, Grand Forks, North Dakota; Dave Knau, Foundation Secretary, Pioneer/DuPont, Johnston, Iowa; Rich Hull, Sun Lakes, Arizona; Cyndi Young, Foundation V.P. (that's me!); Hugh Whaley, Foundation V.P, Osborn & Barr Communications, St. Louis, Missouri.

Kudos to Dave!

A big congratulations to Dave Russell, third place recipient in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting 2008 Newscast Awards.

We are all very proud of you!!!

Trade Talking at NAFB Convention

Trade Talk is an incredible opportunity for ag companies, organizations, government agencies and associations to connect with NAFB Broadcasters.  From 7:30am - 1:30pm, we visit representatives at each of the 100 booths participating in the event.  Because there are 8 Brownfield team members here, we are able to interview someone at every single exhibit.  I know of no other organization that offers such an event.

I started my Trade Talk Day at the Westchester Group booth for an interview with Murray Wise, Westchester Group, Inc. Founder, Chairman and CEO. 

NAFB Foundation Scholarship winners recognized

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention is underway in Kansas City.  As Vice President of the NAFB Foundation, I had the opportunity to introduce the 2008 NAFB Foundation Scholarship winners during the Foundation Luncheon today. 

Katie Allen who worked on the Brownfield team and is now a graduate student at Texas Tech University is our $5,000 Glen Kummerow Scholarship recipient.  Rachel Moten, a junior at the University of Missouri and Katie Amerel, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas were recipients of the $4,000 scholarships.

Katie Allen's Mom and Dad were here to participate in the festivities.  Congratulations Katie!

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer offered remarks at the luncheon.