We called him legendary back in 2009, and he was inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame in 2005. Cliff Mitchell, one of the great farm broadcasters, passed away on his 89th birthday March 30.

Cliff is remembered for his service to the NAFB Foundation auction as auctioneer and as host of Aunt Sara’s Partyline. Those who were privileged guests on his program during NAFB Convention fondly remember the simple invitation of Cliff’s room number and time on the back of his business card. Upon arrival, Miss Ellie would offer you coffee and donut balls while you could hear Cliff talking to the board operator at KASM getting ready for the broadcast. His broadcasts included interviews with guests, the ‘road kill’ report, live commercials and a lot of fun.

A Celebration of Life with Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany, where Cliff married Miss Ellie in 1954. Military honors will be provided by the Albany American Legion. Cliff has donated his body to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations that will be used for a scholarship fund in Cliff’s memory to continue Cliff’s commitment to agriculture.

Learn more about Cliff in this interview with Mike Adams, Agri-Pulse: