|
 |
|
|
|||
 |
 
  
|
 |
|
 Nov. 2, 2012 Source: NAFB news release The election for positions on the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Board of Directors takes place next week at our annual convention in Kansas City. We asked each of the candidates to provide members with their background information. National Vice President Candidates Susan Littlefield has been a farm broadcaster since 1990 and an NAFB member since 1996, when she moved to WNAX, Yankton, SD. In 1998, she joined KZEN/Farm and Ranch Market Network, Columbus NE and continues there today. Susan has been involved in NAFB in a variety of capacities including Trade Talk Chair, News Room Chair, Regional VP, and numerous committees. She took each responsibility serious while working hard for the members and KZEN. "One thing I treasure is just like NAFB, our listeners are family. We connect on many different levels that helps make us better people at days end," said Susan. She has received numerous NAFB Awards including market and newscast and submitted story's. Susan was selected to be one of many spokesperson's for "Common Ground". She enjoys getting the opportunity to talk about agriculture with consumers-with the focus on the Mom who is doing the shopping for her family. Not only from a farm wife/mom perspective but from a farm broadcasters view point. When not on the air, Susan can be found using the other half of her education in farming with her husband Michael and their three kids, Bryan, Morgan & Paul. The family raises and shows registered Columbia sheep. Susan said she enjoys spending time at fairs with her kids because they are the future of the industry, and smiles watching them talk to the consumer sharing their strong ideas and love of agriculture. Andy Vance is the farm broadcaster for Feedstuffs, anchoring daily audio programming for the national agricultural journal. He also writes Feedstuffs' weekly grain market column as staff editor for grains, biofuels and feed ingredients. An active NAFB member since 2003, Andy received the Horizon Award in 2006. During his tenure at the Agri Broadcast Network (ABN), the network earned the 2010 NAFB Newscast of the Year Award and National Runner-up in both the 2009 NAFB Newscast and Marketcast of the Year Awards. After stints as Farm Director at WRFD-AM and with the statewide ABN, Andy joined Feedstuffs in 2010 as columnist and broadcaster. He created the company's two online broadcast programs: -Feedstuffs First, a 15-minute daily report featuring headline news and market analysis -Feedstuffs In Focus, a feature-length interview on a current news topic. Andy grew up on a farm in southern Ohio. He and wife Miranda live outside Columbus, and he remains active as a marketing advisor to the family grain operation. "Over the past 10 years, I've learned a great deal about our profession," Andy says. "I've been on air at both a large station and a statewide. I've served in management and sales roles. Now, I'm exploring the next major frontier in our profession: online broadcasting. Like many NAFB members circumstances have propelled me into new and different opportunities over the years, but one thing hasn't changed: my passion for farm broadcasting. I hope I can 'pay it forward' through service to NAFB's Board of Directors," Andy says. East Region Vice President Candidate Gale Cunningham, Farm Director for WYXY Classic 99.1 FM, and National Association of Farm Broadcasters East Region board Director, brings his Passion for Agriculture every day. This passion was developed by growing up on a grain and dairy farm northeast of Hoopeston Illinois. He has worked In the agriculture field his entire career, including Farm Credit Services Manager in Douglas and Iroquois County, and the Ag Department of the Original Watseka 1st National Bank. While he farmed himself for over two decades, a life changing experience of losing an adult son brought him to the broadcast arena. His Commitment to bringing a positive message of agriculture to anyone who will listen. And his dedication to informing and educating his non-farming listeners about the Importance of the agriculture that provides the food, fiber, feed, and fuel for each and everyone of us every day IS his passion. Providing what the farmer wants and needs as a part of his daily agriculture programs in the vast 99.1 FM Region including Illinois and Indiana, also includes doing his part to educate a growing population unfamiliar with the importance of the ag industry. Gale and his high school sweetheart Beth (whom he credits for the patience and encouragement to take the step in broadcasting) continue to own the farms and live in Tilton. They have two married daughters. One in Boone, NC, and One At Fort Riley, KS, and have three granddaughters and one grandson. "I'm so fortunate to be able to talk everyday about the most essential industry in the world, agriculture. And those people that serve it...that would be farmers, farm wives, 4-Hers, FFAers, and a whole host of businesses and organizations that keeps us going 'down on the farm'"and to share that story of the industry that provides the food, fiber, feed and fuel for all of us each day." Allied Industry Council Candidates Chase Adams is has been a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting for 8 years. First as a student member in 2005, then as a member of the Broadcast Council in 2006 representing KBHB Radio in Sturgis, South Dakota and now as a member of the Allied Industry Council representing the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Chase graduated Black Hills State University in 2005 with Bachelor's degree in Political Science. That same year, he started working, first as an internship with KBHB Radio. Once the budget year ended, Chase was hired as the first farm broadcaster for that station in its fifty year history of covering the five state region of South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and Nebraska. Chase graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2009. He was elected as the Broadcast Council West Region Director under Ken Rahjes in 2009 and has served on the Board of the NAFB as the West Region Vice President since 2011. In October 2012, Chase took over for Mike Deering as the NCBA Director of Communications in Washington, DC. Chase has served the NAFB on both the Scholarship Committee and the Bylaws Committee. Mark Gabrick Growing up in Leavenworth, Kansas, Mark Gabrick did not come from a farming background, but had classmates, friends and relatives that farmed in the area. In 1993, as a salesman for a leading plastics company, Mark led a project that created the first composite bulk container for corn and soybean seed. That led to a similar project with much broader success as he led the development, marketing and sales of a larger product, the SeedBox, to virtually every major seed company in America. That experience was enough to attract him back to agriculture in 2007 when he joined MachineryLink. He currently holds the position of Director, Marketing for MachineryLink, where he has created multiple cross marketing initiatives, unique event marketing endeavors (Smarter Harvest Tours) and oversees all creative and promotional work. He has been staffing MachineryLink's Trade Talk booth since 2007, giving dozens of interviews and making friends with many farm broadcasters. Prior to MachineryLink, Mark held the position of Senior Manager of Corporate Sales & Marketing for the Golf Course Superintendents Association. His previous experience with agriculture comes from the development and promotion of the SeedBox with Buckhorn, Inc, where he spent nearly 20 years in the sales and marketing of specialized plastic containers. Mark has a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and resides in Douglas County, Kansas. Angie Skochdopole Angie Skochdopole currently serves as Senior Media Director for AdFarm, a full service global advertising and public relations agency. In this role, she oversees the media team and all media planning and buying for the agency's US and Canadian clients. Before coming to AdFarm in 2008, she held positions at Quarry Integrated Communications (VP, Media Director), Vance Publishing (Marketing Manager), AGCO (Communications Manager), TBWA Chiat Day (Ag Media Director); Saatchi & Saatchi (Rumrill Hoyt/Senior Media Planner); and had her own communications business for a few years in Terra Haute where she worked for Broadhead + Co., Eden BioScience, Massey Ferguson, and Fendt, as well as some non-ag clients. Major ag businesses that Angie has served over the last 27 years include: Dupont, AGCO, Novartis, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Novus, Merck, Pfizer, Novartis Animal Health, Agrium, Wolf Trax, Agrotain, Marrone BioInnovations, Netafim, Novozymes/EMD, NuSeed and RaboAgrifinance. A graduate from the University of Illinois with a BS in Agriculture Communications/Advertising, Angie is a well-respected member of the agricultural business community. She has served on many national ag boards and working committees including the NAFB. Angie grew up in central Illinois and remains a co-owner of the family's Centennial Farm near Champaign-Urbana. Angie has primarily worked in the arena of ag media, but also has experience in account management and writing and says she "would be happy to serve on the NAFB Board, representing the Allied Industry Council and share my depth of experience as a way to support the organization with positive progression." Source: NAFB news release A long time AIC member of the NAFB, Angie is highly knowledgeable about the organization and able to immediately contribute to current programs - bringing high value input and a personal commitment of success. Management & Sales Council Candidate John Baker is Executive Vice President of the News Division for Learfield Communications Inc., which includes Brownfield Ag News and State News Networks. He is responsible for all aspects of the division's operations and growth, with specific attention to marketing and sales. Brownfield Ag News has the largest agricultural radio network in the Midwest, with affiliate radio stations in 8 states, 10 NAFB broadcasters, and more than 350 affiliate radio stations. John has been with Learfield for 5 years, serving as leader of the sales team for half that time. Prior to joining Learfield, John spent 9 years with IKON Office Solutions, serving as sales manager in Missouri for 4 of those years. John currently holds a board seat with the National Association of State Radio Networks, NASRN, and is president elect for the organization. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Missouri State University, and received his Master in Business from William Woods University. John is also a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School, NOLS, Semester in the Rockies program. John resides in Jefferson City Missouri with his wife Tiffany and 2 children. He enjoys the outdoors, but more specifically fly fishing, bow hunting, and spending quality time with his family and the many kids' activities. He is passionate about the growth opportunities that lie ahead for both Brownfield and the industry. John's ultimate goal is to create growth through innovation and employee empowerment by building a strong creative culture in the division. Tweet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
