One to One with Bill Goodman:
Jack Crowner
premiered August 31, 2008
On this edition of One to One, Bill Goodman speaks with veteran farm broadcaster Jack Crowner, owner and operator of the Farm Service Radio Network and an inductee into the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
The Farm Service Radio Network provides daily farm news and information to rural radio stations in Kentucky, Indiana, and nearby states. Crowner has been providing those reports through radio and television since 1957, and today they are also available online.
In the interview, Crowner discusses changes in technology since he began broadcasting and describes how he produces five farm programs: Accent Agriculture, Tobacco Talk, Cow Country News, Today’s Markets, and Kentucky Farmer. He also talks about the concerns of Kentucky farmers, including gas prices, organic farming, emergency government assistance, and the changing tobacco market. From the consumer perspective, he notes, current issues include food freshness, food safety, and the humane treatment of animals.
Crowner also recalls his duties as announcer for the Kentucky State Fair for 20 years, including auctioning off each year’s grand champion country ham. While discussing the future of farm news, he emphasizes that broadcasters must not forget their local, rural audiences.
