News Release

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Tom Steever, Brownfield Ag News reporter and 2012 president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, received high honors in front of hundreds of Missouri producers and agribusiness leaders during the 45th Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture, hosted by Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.  During the awards banquet Saturday evening, Missouri’s Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce recognized him as the Missouri Farm Broadcaster of the Year.

“Media personalities like Tom share agriculture’s story on a daily basis, and largely contribute to the continued success of the industry,” said Director Fordyce. “It is of utmost importance that we recognize those who have the ear of the public for their ability to broadcast the successes and challenges facing agriculture, here in Missouri and throughout the country.”

Steever’s farm broadcast career began at KSOO Radio in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After 19 years with KSOO, Steever became executive director of the Sioux Falls Stockyards, which included twice daily reports on the Sioux Falls CBS affiliate, KELO Television, as well as on dozens of radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. In early 1997, Steever moved to Chicago to anchor Channel Earth on DirecTV. Steever then joined the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) public relations team at their Park Ridge, Illinois headquarters. When AFBF moved to Washington, D.C. in 2003, Steever moved to Jefferson City, Mo., to be part of the Brownfield broadcast team.

He received his degree in broadcast journalism from South Dakota State University. Steever, who grew up on a farm in South Dakota, and his wife, Lori, live in Jefferson City and are actively involved in several community choral groups. 
Missouri’s Farm Broadcaster of the Year was recognized alongside winners of the Missouri Agriculture Awards at the 2014 Missouri’ Governor’s Conference on Agriculture closing banquet.

The conference, which took place at the Lake of the Ozarks, concluded Saturday evening with a special performance by country music band Sawyer Brown. The three-day event included nationally-recognized speakers, in-depth discussions about current issues and an agriculture tradeshow. Special events during the conference included the Taste of AgriMissouri reception and the Friday evening benefit auction supporting programs for youth and young professionals in agriculture.

For more information on the Governor’s Conference on Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit the Department online at http://agriculture.mo.gov.

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Note: Photos of the award presentation are available by contacting Sarah Alsager at Sarah.Alsager@mda.mo.gov or (573) 751-2613.