New NAFB president Lindsay Hill (ABN Radio) accepted the gavel from Greg Akagi (WIBW/Kansas Ag Net) during the Friday night president’s banquet to symbolize the beginning of a new slate of officers for the farm broadcasting organization, even though it will be the end of the year before it officially changes.
One new regional vice president was elected on Friday. Meghan Grebner (WMBD-Peoria) is the new representative for the eastern region. Ken Rahjes (KRVN) continues to represent the western region and Janet Adkison (KMZU-Carrolton, MO) is the southern region VP.
The new vice president of NAFB is Mark Oppold of RFD TV. I had the chance to interview both Mark and outgoing president Greg right after the business meeting was held on Friday afternoon. Greg says he is looking forward to seeing his family again after three years on the road for NAFB. “I’m going to relax. I’m just imagining that my wife, when December 31 rolls around, will say ‘Happy New Year’ and hand me a 2-3 page list that may take me all of 2011 to accomplish!”
Mark, who has been involved in NAFB for over 25 years as both a voting and an associate member, is looking forward to serving as an officer. He says membership continues to be a challenge for the organization and determining who should or should not qualify. “Membership always seems to float to the top pretty quick,” said Mark. “One of the primary functions of the national vice president is to serve as guardian of the membership roles for that year.” Mark says considering some type of accreditation will be on the table this year.
Listen to an interview with Greg and Mark here: Greg Akagi and Mark Oppold
Two of the most coveted awards of the year for farm broadcasters were handed out during the luncheon on Friday.
Current Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who is now Senator-Elect for that state, stopped by the NAFB meeting on his way out to the nation’s capitol on Friday. 
The latest research on who is listening or watching what in farm broadcast media was presented Friday morning at the NAFB annual meeting by the great Teddy Haller.
County music star Sammy Kershaw entertained the NAFB annual meeting Thursday night, bringing back an old tradition of live entertainment.
The NAFB Hall of Fame inducted two new members. Taylor Brown, Northern Ag Network, is past president of NAFB and the NAFB Foundation and has been called “Senator” for the past two years as he was elected to the Montana state legislature for a four year term. He and his wife Shannon were thrilled with the honor. Kinda young for this, don’t you think, Taylor?
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was Gene Millard, NAFB emeritus member and head of Millard Family Farms. Gene was a pioneer in NAFB’s sales and marketing efforts, and served as interim executive director for the organization for a little while. He brought his 90-something year old mother to help him celebrate the honor last night.
There were two different Meritorious Service Award winners this year, for the first time ever. The honorees this year were Denny Waddle of KRVN and former NAFB executive director Roger Olsen. Denny and Roger were both surprised by the recognition, which is always fun, although Roger noted that he never thought it was fair to surprise people with this award – and now he’s sure that it’s unfair!
The New Holland Oscar in Agriculture Award was presented this year to Mark Oppold of RFD TV for his work covering the flooding in Tennessee earlier this year. Coverage of the flooding on RFD TV helped to raise about $50,000 to help those affected. NAFB is sincerely grateful to New Holland – represented here by the “retired” Gene Hemphill and Sean Dorosz, for sponsoring this award that recognizes the best of the best for excellence in farm broadcasting.
A brand new record was set for the NAFB Foundation’s annual fundraising auction Thursday night – $22,295! Not sure how much it beats the old record by, but last year the total was about $13,000, so this was a biggie.
Orion Samuelson, the original NAFB Foundation president, once again served as Master of Ceremonies for the auction. First he was honored with a special video presentation marking his 50 years at WGN. “I don’t want people to get confused that this is a retirement,” Orion said. “It isn’t. I’m having too much fun doing what I’m doing.”
Farm broadcasters at NAFB Thursday went straight from Trade Talk to a 45 minute press conference with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. 
NAFB’s annual Trade Talk seemed to be one of the best ever, with many of both the exhibitors and the broadcasters claiming they had set all time interview records. 
Trade Talk is really a unique event that has grown to be very popular with about 100 different companies, organizations and government agencies that come every year. Most of them have been participating in Trade Talk since it started 20 years ago. It gives the broadcasters and allied members an opportunity for real networking with each other.