Brownfield

Good candidates for ag promotions

If someone tells you there are no qualified candidates to fill ag public relations positions, I will tell you that they have not looked very hard.

We have an opening on staff for a promotions coordinator.  I have been conducting interviews for this position and would like to hire nearly every one of candidate with whom I have met.  Even those people who have applied for this position that are not from a traditional ag background have a well-rounded skill set with a deep understanding of the importance of agriculture in this country.

What it's all about

About halfway through the process of finding sponsors for Nebraska Master Showmanship Contest, I wonder if it is all worth it.  Of course all of the sponsorship monies go to the youth participating in the contest.  Along with Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Brownfield and Waitt Agribusiness cover the costs of promotions, signage, postage, and everything else.  Our sponsors are wonderful, generous companies and associations who believe in our youth, but finding sponsors that do want to invest and be a part of this event, typically means you have to make contact with several that do not.  Yesterday I was reminded exactly why we invest our time and backing into the contest, when I received a nice letter from a young man from McCool Junction, Nebraska:

Thank you so much for your support of the 4-H program during the Nebraska State Fair.  This was my last of 11 years in 4-H and what an honor it has been to be a part of a great organization.  Doing something that I truly enjoy;  working with my 4-H animals.  Having a couple of calves and pigs each year has really allowed me to be up to date on the latest in animal structure, feed and nutriton in my animals.

It was truly an honor to be selected to participate in the Nebraska Master Showmanship Contest druing the Nebraska State Fair.  I had a great experience, met new friends and learned a lot more about sheep, pigs and calves that day.

I am currently attending the University of Nebraska Lincoln on East Campus in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics.  I am very involved in school and activities and really enjoy college.

Thanks again for your support.

Spencer Bolte

60 years of great radio in West Plains, Missouri

There will be a huge celebration on June 15th in West Plains, Missouri, when Brownfield affiliate KWPM celebrates its 60th anniversary.  Cash and prize give-aways, an open house at the studios, a mayoral ribbon-cutting and ceremony and presentations by numerous local and area dignitaries are all planned.

Derry Brownfield, who is the namesake of our network, and the host of a daily 3-minute commentary on the Brownfield Network, is also the host of his own talk show. Bob Eckman, VP of Operations for Ozark Regional news Talk Radio was a guest on Derry's talk show a couple of weeks ago and talked about the station's history and about the upcoming celebration. [Audio: Part 1, Part 2]

KWPM, by the way, stands for "Keep West Plains Moving."  Another piece of triva, Porter Wagoner got his start when he and his band performed at KWPM back in the late 1940's and early 1950's.  Along with KWPM in West Plains, Ozark Regional News Talk Radio includes stations KALM in Thayer AND KUKU in Willow Springs.

Dameron to serve as Brownfield student intern

Brownfield, Ag News for America, welcomes Taryn Dameron as student intern for the summer of 2007. 

Taryn inherited her passion for agriculture growing up on a farm in western Missouri where her family raises crossbred cattle and row crops. She is currently finishing up her sophomore year at the University of Missouri where she is pursuing a degree in Agriculture Journalism.
 

Taryn has experience writing and taking pictures for school publications and served as a photography intern for Monsanto’s Technology Development group in the summer of 2006.  Recently, Taryn found her way into radio as a reporter for NPR’s 91.3 in Columbia.

As student intern for Brownfield, Taryn will assist in promotions and coordination of several major summer events across the Midwest.  She will also have the unique opportunity to work side-by-side with experienced agricultural journalists who will offer instruction in writing and interviewing skills for broadcast on the radio network as well as the Brownfield website and online e-newsletter, “Agriculture Today.”

Taryn’s 12 week internship with Brownfield begins May 21.

Are you qualified?

Brownfield Ag News is looking for a Promotions Coordinator.

Job responsibilities include coordinating promotional programs and events, writing news releases, designing brochures and print ads, coordinating interviews and broadcaster appearances with local radio stations, maintaining events calendar on web page, and assist in editing daily e-newsletter.   The Promotions Coordinator conducts new product interviews and creates a weekly podcast.   

The ideal candidate should have a rural and/or agricultural background and a strong writing background and a passion for agriculture.
Organizational skills and attention to detail are necessary. 

Brownfield functions as a team, so the ability to work in a team environment is necessary.  The position is based in Jefferson City, Missouri. 

Please email an updated resume’ along with samples of work to Cyndi Young
cyoung@learfield.com

Learfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Let the celebrations begin!

National Agriculture Day occurs on the first day of Spring each year.  Wednesday, March 21, is the day to celebrate in 2007.

One of the things we at Brownfield do in observation of National Agriculture Week and Day is to partner with our local affiliate radio stations to promote and educate listeners about agriculture.  We do this in many ways.  One of those is through thirty and sixty-second promotional announcements, another is through "guest appearances" on those local radio station programs. 

This morning, I spent half an hour with Mike Bellemy on affiliate WLBK in DeKalb, Illinois, talking about everything from anti-ag groups to rural lifestylers to FFA and Asian soybean rust.  Mike is a huge supporter of agriculture and does a great job educating listeners about the industry.

BF affiliate goes global

I received this note from Faune Riggin at our Cape Girardeau, Missouri-based affiliates KZIM and KSIM:

KZIM KSIM is going global! You may now listen to us at work, on vacation, or anywhere via the internet through our streaming audio! It’s simple just log on at www-dot-960-kzim-dot-com OR at www-dot-1400-ksim-dot-com and click on the streaming prompt. Then get ready to enjoy all of your local, regional, national, and worldwide news! Let your family and friends know - they can now keep in touch with southeast Missouri with a click of their mouse! This is all possible as part of the BANK OF MISSOURI’S Hometown commitment to YOU! Streaming audio is back with your regional news authority KZIM KSIM!!!!

It is worth it to go to their website just to catch up on the Genius Awards.