The Invitation

Famous stories about Aunt Sara's Partyline began to pass by my ears in the early part of my farm broadcasting career. Cliff Mitchell, Farm Director at KASM Radio in Albany, Minnesota is the host of the Partyline, a live radio program that I think is the definition of local radio. Cliff hosts the show, visiting with guests, reading all his own commercials live and passing along different bits of information. Cliff has been a broadcaster for 52 years at KASM, so there's no doubt everyone in the Albany community must know him well.

I've been invited to be on the Partyline over a half dozen times now. Each trip to Cliff's room is more special, so I have to admit I relish the idea of being invited to be on the Partyline. When I served as a national officer for NAFB from 2001 - 2003, it was pretty much a gimme that you'd get to be on the show. To be invited back after you are a Past President of NAFB is a special treat in my book.

Here's how "the invitation" comes about...usually, you're standing with a group of friends visiting. Cliff will either be a part of the conversation or will slip in and pass along a bit or two. At some point, a business card will come out of his pocket, on which, Cliff writes his room number, a time (either 6:00 or 6:30am), along with the word Thursday or Friday on the back. This is followed by "will that work for you?" to which you answer in the affirmative or explain any conflicts. I've always compared it to being "tapped" for a meeting of the secret society since it happens in this fashion. You see, Cliff is sharp enough to know that if he comes up and says "Do you want to come and be on Aunt Sara's Partyline Friday morning at 6:00" and if I say no, there may be someone standing there who'll volunteer to go in my place instead. By slipping the card, Cliff maintains control of his show.

I'll bet there's not a consultant out there that would be smart enough to think of something so simple...that's a gimme with Cliff, and a testimony of how sharp a guy is to be able to stick in radio for 52 years!

Rural Lifestyles

This afternoon's forums at NAFB picked up on the convention theme of "Positioned for the Future." The first panel discussion addresses research that had been done on Rural Lifestyles and included panelists Gene Millard (NAFB), Mark Vail (Eagle Radio), Greg Guse (Paulsen Advertising) and Roger Olson (KATZ Advantage).

Gene presented the results from 2 years of research NAFB has done to focus on those folks who live in the country and are engaged in agriculture; maybe not at the same level as their neighbor crop & livestock farmers, but still spending money in the agriculture industry. You can see the results of the NAFB Research yourself online.

Mark Vail did a great job presenting a show a lot of folks in the KFEQ listening area are familiar with--AgriShop. He literally had people on the front side of their seat, taking notes about the show and inquiring after the presentation about its availability. (AgriShop is a great hour of radio; Gene does a great job at host & Mark amazes me on how he's able to master the control board and screen calls at the same time).

Greg Guse used to his time of presentation to focus on a series of interviews he had done with 'Rural Lifestylists' and found their connection with the land was of high priortiy to them.

Roger Olsen wrapped up the afternoon with his presentation of new research (that matched NAFB's 2 year numbers closely) that has been done about Rural Lifestyles. Interesting facts...and facts that should prove to advertisers that Farm Broadcasting reaches beyond those in production agriculture. We've known for a long time that people other than farmers are listening to farm broadcasters.

NAFB Convention: Foundation Luncheon

The NAFB convention is "officially" underway with the NAFB Foundation Scholarship Luncheon kicking things off. The Foundation awarded 3 scholarship to students who are pursuing careers in agriculture communications. Our own Andrew McCrea (The American Countryside) served as emcee for the event. Taylor Brown (Northern Ag Network), NAFB Foundation Chair, always does a great job promoting what the foundation does and the quality of students that are involved in the program.
I always enjoy this luncheon at convention. While I wasn't a scholarship winner myself, I've had the chance to interact with several of the recipients these past 13 years in the business. Several of them have come from the Show-Me State and I've been luck enough to work with several when they were broadcast interns at the National FFA convention. Here are as a few that come to mind (and where they're at now). It's encouraging to me to see the energy they have and how they are still involved in the business today.

Company on the Couch

Being just an hour away from the Westin Crown Center, I headed to Kansas City early this morning, checked into the room and decided to see who had arrived already. After a swing through the convention news center and registration, I figured the best spot to camp out for a bit was on the couch in the hall between those two areas. It's a great place for people watching (one of my favorite things) and to catch up with folks you might not see otherwise.

I hadn't been there 2 minutes when my cowboy poet friend Baxter Black stopped by, sat down and started to visit. It wasn't but a few minutes later until someone else stopped by, then another. As if things couldn't get any better, along came another friend, Rick Haines from the Northern Ag Network.

I enjoyed the conversation and appreciate NAFB's Susan Tally sending the shot my way!

Every time I see Baxter Black, there are a dozen of his poems that come to mind. My favorite is one he did several years ago on the radio that I keep around today to listen to is Just Words. At the time, it was just one of those pieces that hit me right. I've used it several times since and hope you'll take something away from it, too.

To hear Just Words from Baxter's Book, Cactus Tracks & Cowboy Philosophy, click the mp3 link above.

Copyright Baxter Black, Crown Publishers, 1997

National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention

The National Association of Farm Broadcaster's (NAFB) 61st Convention kicks off in Kansas City today. While it serves as the annual business meeting for the members, it's actually more. There's the business sessions, professional improvement, Trade Talk and the newsmaker sessions. We're able to network with agribusiness and agriculture association members, plus enjoy some great meals. More than anything, though, this convention is a family reunion of sorts. Some of my best friends in the world are farm broadcasters.

Our group has met at the Westin Crown Center since 1972 and is the oldest convention the hotel hosts each year. The "regulars" at the Westin always make it worth coming in the doors. Tall Paul (pictured at right) is always there at the door when I come back; Bellmen like Glen or David are always there to help get your bags to your room and the rest of the staff is top quality. The fact that so many of these hotel staff have been on board for 30 years or more speaks volumes to the way the company must treat its staff. It's obvious to me...otherwise the staff probably wouldn't be treating its guests as good as they do. Call it employee satisfaction.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Today is my Dad's birthday.

A lot of times someone will ask me, "How old is your dad, anyway?" I usually like to have them guess, because I don't think he looks his age. No one has ever overestimated his years; I hope the genetics of young looks is something I inherit from Dad.

Dad has always been there for me...whether it was helping to gather up the supplies for a demonstration on hog bedding or every football game I dressed out for in high school. I've enjoyed the opportunity to get to know him better through the years. We've had the chance to spend time together on the road, working around the house on fix-up projects, in the tractor or combine cab or across the table from each other. The stories that he's told are priceless to me...from his adventures as a youth growing up in Hopkins to serving in the US Army during the Korean War. I enjoy his company and feel like something is "missing" if we don't catch up with each other every few days on the phone. He's a wonderful Dad to me and a great Grandpa to our children.

The picture above is of from November of 2003. That's Dad & Mom with me in the middle.

Just Who Is Tom Brand?

In the late part of 2002, I wanted to start a written journal. I'd been given the suggestion by a friend who told me I'd appreciate being able to go back and read some of the entries I had written during my year serving as President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters in 2003. I sincerely wanted to try this, so I began writing...

My thought process was this: if generations after me were to pick up this small "book" and read my ramblings, surely they'd be curious as to who I was. So I included a selection that explained who Tom Brand is. It went something like this:

I'm Thomas Raymond Brand, born January 26, 1971 to Lois and Richard Brand of Hopkins, Missouri. I grew up on a farm 2 1/2 miles south of Hopkins; lived there until I went to college at the Univesity of
Missouri-Columbia in the fall of 1989. I returned home to work on the farm every summer until 1992, when full time employment at KMFC Radio in Centralia, Missouri kept me in Columbia. In late summer of 1992, I married Beth Renee' Oltman, the love of my life since my senior year in high school. We spent the first part of our married life living in Columbia in the basement apartment of a house at 121 Clinton Avenue.

The opportunity to work full time as a farm broadcaster came in September 1993 when I accepted the opportunity to work for Learfield Communications and the Brownfield Network--the largest agriculture network in the nation.. Beth and I lived in a nice little 2 bedroom apartment on Ventura Boulevard, a few blocks away from work for my 12 months at the network. It was during our time in Jefferson City that our daughter Morgan was born.

After several weeks of driving back and forth from Jefferson City to home, we were ready for a change. That opportunity came in 1994 when KMA Radio's farm director announced he was leaving and that their general manager would like to speak to me about their opening in the farm department. Long story short, we jumped at the chance to go to the station I was raised listening to and moved to Shenandoah, Iowa. Our first home purchased was at 104 West Clarinda in Shenandoah. After two years of broadcasting with May Broadcasting, I followed the "radio rule" (better market, better salary, better position) and had my ears on the job market. During our time in Shenandoah, Sylvia was born. Alex came along when we were in Iowa, too; but that was during the "transition" from KMA to KFEQ Radio.

You see, what happened was that I took the job at KFEQ in St. Joseph, Missouri, but our house in Shenandoah couldn't sell. Finally, after a year on the market, the old classic sold. I quit the 180 mile round-trip commute with a whole lot of relief (for myself as well as Beth).

Our move to St. Joseph takes me to where we live today, 3204 Dale Avenue. This has been our home for over 5 years now--the longest Beth and I have lived in one place since we were married. Zoe joined us in 2001. Does all this answer the "who am I?" question? I think it helps, but doesn't give a total answer.

To best explain who I am, it's probably best to look at several different things. I am: first and foremost, a Christian; the husband of Beth; the father of Morgan, Sylvia, Alex and Zoe; the son of Richard and Lois; the grandson of Earl & Cuma Alexander and Wayne & Sylvia Brand. I am farm director at KFEQ Radio & President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. I enjoy my time with family, speaking with and to people, traveling and a home cooked meal. I'm the editor of "The American Countryside" radio program. My favorite movie of all is Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" with Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart. I dislike yard work on hot days, inter-office politics and multiple rainy days in a row. Pet peeves include people who don't take the time to listen and would rather hear themselves talk instead. Sunrises and sunsets always have time in my schedule. My favorite food is a toss-up between a good steak and pizza (steak: KC Strip; Pizza: Pagliai's shrimp & sauerkraut).

At 6'2" and 265 pounds with a size 13 shoe, there's plenty of me to go around. I hope this helps future readers understand a little more about me.

I hadn't taken the time to read that since I wrote it nearly 3 years ago. I found it interesting and thought maybe you would too.

With that, let the blogging begin...