Under Eric Brown’s leadership, the Nebraska Radio Association grew to blanket Nebraska and Kansas with agricultural information. Regardless of the agricultural economy, Eric remained committed to serving agriculture through his farmer-rancher-owned radio group, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network. With a vision based on rural Nebraska community needs, Eric maintained station viability and led his stations back to prosperity when Nebraska’s rural economic climate improved.
Each year, the Nebraska Rural Radio Association presents "The Service to Agriculture," Award. Tonight, The Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement is pleased to introduce our 2008 Honoree, Dr. Eric Brown of Lexington, Nebraska, and recognize him for his "Service to Agriculture."
In 1979, at the age of 34, Eric Brown came to radio station KRVN in Lexington, Nebraska, as General Manager. He brought with him an impressive background of experience and education in journalism to lead the tradition begun with the leadership of his father, Max Brown.
In 1962, while a junior at Lexington High School, Eric began his broadcasting career as a part-time rock and roll DJ at KRVN. He worked summers as a DJ and newsman until graduation in 1967 from the University of Nebraska School of Journalism. In 1968, Eric earned his Masters Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri, and he then taught at South Dakota State University. In 1975 he was awarded his Ph.D. in Broadcasting from Ohio University. He returned to South Dakota State as Director of Educational Media and manager of KESD FM/TV until his move back to KRVN in 1979.
While similar attempts at rural-owned and formatted stations struggled, under the leadership of Eric Brown the Nebraska Radio Association grew to blanket Nebraska and much of Kansas with agricultural information. With the purchase of KNEB AM/FM in Scottsbluff in 1984 and KTIC AM/FC in West Point in 1997, the Nebraska Rural Radio Network became the most influential farmer-rancher-owned radio group in America. Through the ups and downs of the agricultural economy, Eric never wavered in the commitment of service to agriculture.
While competitors cut service and fell on hard times, Eric never lost sight of his mission, maintained the viability of the stations, and led them back to prosperity when the economic climate improved in rural Nebraska. According to long-time KRVN personality Dave Thorell, Eric has held the line on expenses. For example, KRVN is still using the same Monogram Money wheel that was found many years ago along the banks of the Platte River. It had been thrown out by a couple in a covered wagon when the order was given to lighten the wagons as they crossed the river. KRVN engineers found it and refurbished it.
Eric has resisted fads in changing the station format and has led with a clear vision of the needs of the Nebraska rural community. Through the years, his astute feel for rural people's needs and tastes has been reflected in the unprecedented ratings consistently won by the Rural Radio Network in regional radio pools. Those ratings have allowed the Network to prosper economically and return even higher levels of service to its listening audiences.
KRVN farm director, Mike LePorte, comments that Eric has been visionary when it comes to staying on the cutting edge of technology and using that technology to give the Rural Radio Association a competitive edge.
In 1995, Eric's leadership brought the World Wide Web to central Nebraska, and one year later launched the KRVN website. This website has become exceedingly important to a convenient communication system for rural Nebraskans.
In 2005, Eric helped originate the Rural Lifestyle Marketing, LLC, a group of legacy stations covering 16 markets in the upper Midwest. He currently serves as the group's president.
In 2007, KRVN launched Mobile Markets to provide ag information to producer's cell phones. The station has also done streaming audio and is experimenting with podcasting.
Eric's unique combination of expertise, knowledge, experience, leadership, and sound judgment are sought by a variety of local, state, and national entities for service as a member or on their leadership board. To quote radio personality, Dave Thorell, "Eric is the go-to guy when it comes to advice and especially advice on women. I think the best advice he ever gave me was…'There are two theories when it comes to arguing with a woman and neither one works.'" And Eric will say that wisdom is from experience in working with long-time loyal employee Barb Martinsen.
Thorell goes on to say that Eric advised him, "Before you criticize someone you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and have their shoes."
Eric has served on more than two dozen statewide boards and in leadership positions on many of them. Included are:
* Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation Board
* Board of the Nebraska Council of Economic Education
* Nebraska Unicameral New Horizon Task Force
* Board of Directors for Nebraska Futures
* Member, Nebraska Math and Science Coalition
* Board of Directors for Nebraska's Quasquicentennial
* Ag 40
* University of Nebraska-Lincoln Masters Week Returning Master, 1984
* Agriculture 2001 Committee
* National Association of Broadcaster, Board of Directors
* Agriculture Builders of Nebraska
* University of Nebraska Foundation
* State Chamber of Commerce
* Chancellor's Advisory Committee, UNK and UNL
* President's Advisory Committee, University of Nebraska
* Nebraska Information Technology Commission, for 8 years
* President of the Nebraska Foundation for Agricultural Awareness
* President of the Nebraskaland Foundation
* Board Member of the Nebraska Humanities Council
* Nebraska Water Resources Association
* Tri-County Hospital
* Past board member of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation
* The Greater Lexington Corporation
Locally, as one would expect, Eric has served in leadership roles in the United Methodist Church, the Dawson County Economic Development Council, and the hospital and community foundation.
Eric has been honored by the UNL Alumni Association, UNL's College of Journalism, the Lincoln Agribusiness Club, and the LEAD Alumni Association.
In 1990 he was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Ag Achievement. In 2006, Eric was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Eric Brown's political expertise has not been lost on our Nebraska political scene. Listen to comments from Senator Chuck Hagel and Senator Ben Nelson.
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Eric has lobbied on behalf of Nebraska rural hospitals and the Nebraska Humanities Council, in support of IANR, and the Regional Veterinary Medicine Concept, along with providing significant financial contributions. Eric and Ruth are members of the University of Nebraska Foundation President's and Chancellor's Club.
Again, quoting Mike LePorte, "Eric is tireless when it comes to championing agricultural causes in the state and recently helped form the Nebraska Rural Radio Foundation designed to assist rural Nebraskans who want to further their educational opportunities."
Eric has served two terms on the Board of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and served as president in 1984. He helped start the statewide Governor's call-in program. For the past ten years, Eric has served as the national legislative liaison for the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.
Through all this involvement, the real benefactors have been Nebraska ag producers and agri-business. Eric has been extremely sensitive to responding to the views of his board of directors, made up of ag producers and leaders in the ag community, along with representatives of Nebraska's major general farm organizations. Eric has kept the Nebraska Rural Radio Network extremely responsive to IANR, University Extension, and all other ag interests to serve rural Nebraska and Kansas.
Past Nebraska Rural Radio Board President Dale Hansen of Mead says, "Eric brings prestige and great respect to the NRRA because of the high regard held by the University of Nebraska and State Government official. He is very disciplined and organized in dealing with others. He even is somewhat effective in controlling Barb Martinsen's enthusiasm."
Current Board President, Larry Hudkins of Malcolm says, "Eric is the quiet voice who works behind the scenes and brings great credibility to the Rural Voice of Nebraska."
KRVN Operations Manager Ed Bennett echoes the observation that Eric appears to be a quiet, reflective man with actions designed to put others at ease. This is his statewide persona. However, those who know him will, know that he is hiding an inner demon, a very loud and forceful sneeze. To quote Ed, "Pachyderms at Henry Doorly Zoo show less assertiveness and for this reason, Eric's office at KRVN is located in the opposite corner from the sound-proof production studios."
Along with all his involvement, Eric and Ruth have raised and rightfully are proud of their accomplished family, Mrs. Eric, Dr. Ruth Brown, is an Associate Professor of Communications at UNK. Ruth is a native of Cuming County Nebraska. Son Nathan, a Harvard University graduate, works for the U.S. Department of Defense, in Washington, D.C. Eric and Ruth's twin daughters and their husbands recently moved back to Lincoln. Andrea, a graduate of Augustana College, is a Pediatric Nurse Consultant with Nebraska Health and Human Services and Valerie, a graduate of Northwestern University, is Associate Director of Communications Planning with Bailey-Lauerman.
It gives me great pleasure to present to you the 2008 Honoree of the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement, Dr. Eric Brown.
