The big event of the year for farm broadcasters and everyone else associated in the business is just around the corner – are you ready?

The president-elect of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) has everything in place for the annual meeting in Kansas City next week and she is very excited about some of the changes in store this year.

“We really listened to what people gave us in terms of feedback from last year’s convention,” says Lindsay Hill of Ohio’s ABN Radio Network. “People were telling us, we want more news makers, we want more professional development.” So – news makers and professional development were expanded. There will be three back-to-back professional improvement sessions on Wednesday afternoon and a keynote session on Friday featuring Scott McKain, author of “Collapse of Distinction.” There will be a news maker session on Wednesday morning on the future of agriculture, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will visit on Thursday afternoon after Trade Talk, and then another news maker session on Friday morning.

Speaking of Trade Talk, Lindsay says it will be a little bit longer this year. “We stretched it out just an extra 30 minutes, because a lot of broadcasters said they didn’t even have time to get lunch, so hopefully that will help.” Business sessions have been changed around a bit, with the all council meeting still on Thursday afternoon, but the separate council meetings and regional meeting on Friday afternoon.

Thursday night will feature entertainment with Sammy Kershaw and Friday night’s President’s banquet will be an “Evening in Hollywood.” There is lots more in the jam-packed schedule, so be sure to check it all out in the on-line agenda. If you have not registered yet, don’t miss out! On-line registration is closed, but you can still register on site.

Listen to or download my interview with Lindsay here: Lindsay Hill Interview