Agri-Talk & KCLN Agriculture Round-table

In honor of National Agriculture Day, I want to share a great event that happened at the museum on March 20, 2014.    

A few months prior, the phone rang. I didn't even let the voice on the other end finish his sentence before I said yes, you must. Museums live for these sort of moments. A national radio show would broadcast live from the museum, and afterwards, a two hour roundtable on agricultural issues affecting Iowan-Illinois farmers would commence. All the museum had to do was provide a space.

First and foremost a huge thanks needs to be extended to Chris Streets and his team at KCLN. When KCLN's parent company, Prairie Radio Communication, asked Chris to find a place that screamed Clinton, Chris told his boss, Vanessa Wetterling, The Sawmill Museum. So not only does Chris choose us, he and his team went above and beyond to make the museum's life easy. His team setup the entire show. They coordinated all facets of the day. As I said multiple times on March 20th, "This is my sort of event. They did all the work and still gave us all sorts of glory!"

Chris and his team though let the true stars of the day shine, the guests. I never got tired hearing Mike Adams of Agri-Talk announce to his listeners how beautiful the museum was. I loved the passion that every guest had about agriculture. If you haven't had a chance to attend one of these meetings or catch it on the radio you should. Once the podcast appears, I will link to them.  Below the break is a play-by-play of the day.

  Clinton County and Clinton, Iowa could not afford the free advertising that Agri-Talk provided our community. Mike Adams and Chris Streets/KCLN made a great panel. A personal plus for the museum was the incorporation of Silo & Smokestacks during the show. I have to thank David Klockenga, the National Sales Director of Prairie Radio Communications, for securing Silos. The nation got to hear about one of the greatest educational tools for agriculture, the National Heritage Area of eastern Iowa. After Silos, Mike talked to a local farmer and the head of Illinois Pork about issues facing them.  Then somehow the Chamber got a great chance to share with the nation some exciting economic developments. Nathan, the Chamber Director, knocked this out of the ballpark. 

   Then after a wonderful lunch provided by Prairie Radio Communications, the national radio show ended and the agricultural roundtable took over. What followed was a highly illuminating two hour discussion on issues facing Iowa/Illinois and the nation's farmer. Mike Adams and Vanessa Wetterling served as moderators. Below are a few pictures of the roundtable. 

All in all, it was a great time, and the museum looks forward to hosting another roundtable this fall. Once again, a huge thanks to Mike Adams & Agri-Talk, Chris Streets & KCLN, and Vanessa Wetterling & Prairie Radio Communications. Most of all thanks to the staff and volunteers who made it possible for me to take all of these pictures while they handled the business of the museum.