AgWired

Pam Fretwell is now the past President of the NAFB. We just completed an emotional banquet to honor Pam’s year and do a little roasting too. Ask her about her parent’s garage that had a little problem with fire when she was very young for example.

Attending the banquet were members of Pam’s family including her parents and friends and colleagues from work. As you’ve heard in my interview with Pam earlier this week, she’s very dedicated to her family and is looking to spending more time with them now.

Well, the gavel has been turned over to new NAFB President Randy Koenen. You can pronounce that however you want by the way. He doesn’t seem to mind. I think the proper way is “Conan” as in barbarian.

I want to thank NAFB for bringing me in to cover their convention on AgWired and have to say that I’ve really enjoyed doing so with so many of my long time friends. Today’s session on new media was fun for me and I hope that it was helpful to those who attended.

Please feel free to visit the photo album. I’m adding more tonight and will get Cindy’s when I get home and upload them later this weekend.

At today’s NAFB luncheon tenure awards were presented and two very prized awards were given.

Receiving the NAFB Horizon Award is Janelle Brose, Michigan Farm Radio Network (left).

The recipient of the NAFB Farm Broadcaster of the Year award was presented to Mike Hergert, Red River Farm Network (center).

They’re pictured with NAFB President Pam Fretwell.

New Holland once again sponsored the Oscar in Agriculture Award. This year’s winner for excellence in farm broadcast reporting is Susan Risinger, WJAG, pictured here with New Holland’s Gene Hemphill.

Susan did a series of stories on hydroponic tomato growing in Nebraska which we heard a cut from.

Susan’s award concluded the Night of Honors banquet.

The Dix Harper Meritorious Service Award was presented to Vic McGill, CC/KATZ Advantage at last night’s NAFB Awards dinner.

I think it was the famous Vic McGill laugh that did it and we heard it last night. Vic was truly moved by the award and looks forward to continuing his service to the farm broadcasting industry.

Vic is pictured with NAFB President Pam Fretwell.

One of the new inductees into the NAFB Hall of Fame is Bob Nance.

Bob was here and got up to the microphone one more time.

Both of this year’s inductees got standing ovations for long and distinguished careers in farm broadcasting.

Please feel free to post any comments you have about Bob and his career in comments.

Michelle Rook, WNAX, pictured on the left announced our NAFB Hall of Fame winners at last night’s banquet. She’s pictured here with members of the George Menard family. George was one of the inductees.

We had a great video presentation of the lives and careers of these farm broadcasting greats that was put together by NAFB Historian Todd Gleason, WILL. If you have any details about George that you’d like to post in comments please feel free.

Local blues band favorite Neon Blue performed for NAFB once again last night.

The Blues Bash has been around for years. I seem to remember being one of several people who emptied our pockets of cash at the first one to keep them playing for some extra hours. I did not stay to the end to see if I would have to do it again though.

The activity here at the convention kind of got off to a slower start than yesterday. I’m just guessing that the Blues Bash had a little bit to do with it.