Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
xxx GIVES ONLY
FARM PROGRAMS
Nebraska Station Confines
Features Strictly to
Agriculture.

Specialization is practically unknown
IN the broadcasting field. Only neg
lfgible number of the hundreds of sta
tons now in operation in the United
States are building their programs to
serve particular classes of listeners.
Among them, KFKX of Hastings
Nebr., stands out as the only strictly
agricultural broadcasting station in
the world.
KFKX, owned by the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Co., has
since January 10 been managed by the
National Broadcasting Co., which owns
also manages WIZ, New York, and
WRC, Washington, for the Radio Cor
poration of America. The experiment
in agricultural specialization at xxx
began when the National BroadcaSting
Co. assumed management OF the sta
ton, and in the short time intervening
many ideas have been tried out, most
of which have received an excellent
response from the stations listeners.
The aim and scope of the plans
which are being carried out at the
Hastings station are most easily I'M
6erstood by perusing a portion OF
statement made public by M. H. Ayles-
worth, president of the National Broad
casting Co., when his concern took
over the management of xxx.
1.-The Nebraska station will be made
the experiment center of a service spe-
cially adapted to the needs of the
great farming communities of the
United States" Mr.. Aylesworth said.
Radio broadcasting has greater sig
nificance. perhaps, to the farmer than
to any other element of our popula-
ton" he continued THE National
Broadcasting Co., therefore, proposes
to make an exhaustive study OF the
farmers needs in so far as broadcast
ing service Is concerned. To the city
dweller radio may be almost wholly an
entertainment feature. and at best an
additional cultural opportunity. To
the farmer, however. radio is both
vital service to the home and to the
farming industry.
Destroys IsolatiOns.
Beyond the fact that broadcasting
can bring the city to the farm. its mis-
sion is to destroy the isolation which
formerly shrouded the lonely farm
house, as well as to bring a service of
weather, market and other informa-
ton which will enable the individual
farmer to take advantage of market
conditions"
At that time Frank E. Mullen,
graduate of Iowa State College, pos
sessing extensive experience in agri-
cultural and in general Journalism,
who instituted the agricultural broad
casting service of KDKA, recognized
by the United States Government as
the most complete ever rendered up
to that time, was appointed manager
of xxx.
For the working out of the expert
ment xxx is almost ideally located.
It is situated in practically the center
of the United States, in the midst OF
one of the richest farming districts OF
the country. Moreover. the range OF a
broadcast transmitter located in sec
ton which is not Swallowed by nigh
buildings and by great masses OF steel
construction is far greater than that
of the same apparatus situated In
large city.
The experiment was begun during
Ma Winter because. the cold weather
season Is the time when farmers have
the least to do. The results obtained
TO date from the audience In the sta
tons territory have proved the fea-
sibility of the plans.
Since January 10, six separate IN
formational services designed espe-
riaIlv to help farmers in their every
dav problenls have become regular
features of the stations programs,
more than 90 authorities on various
farm subjects have presented talks on
speciaI phases of agriculture ana a
leased wire has been installed between
the station, and the United States De-
partment of Agriculture Bureau OF
Economics, with an operator always
on duty.
xxx is the only broadcasting sta
ton to possess this close tie-up with
fhe DEPARTMENT of Agriculture, which
t&es let a
service for all market and other agri-
cultural reports.
On Monday. Wednesday and Friday
nights of every week. the Government
Farm Radio School holds sessions on
KFKX's wave, and the organization
now has enrolled hundreds of farmers
from a surprisingly large number OF
States. News dispatches from Ne
braska State Agricultural College are
read daily, as well as news. dispatches
from the United States Department
Of Agriculture.
Six times daily, market reports are
broadcast, covering all important live
stock, grain, hay, feed, vegetable and
butter and egg markets, and seven
times a day, weather forecasts for Ne
braska. Iowa. South Dakota. Kansas.
Colorado, Wyoming and Montana are
read over the air. Regular farm bull
ietins from the Nebraska State Elk
tension Service are always a part of
the stations schedule.
Farmers Wife Served.
At the same time, the farmers wife
has not been neglected. Under the di-
rection of Marie X. Neff of the xxx
staff, regular morning programs de-
signed especially to interest women
listeners are being established Miss
Neff originated and conducted the very
successful women's program of KDKA,
and she is following much the same
scheme of development in her work
at the Nebraska station.
1.-THE Homemakers' Radio Club" is
being organized. and regular meetings
will be held in the stations studio
while the programs are being put on
the air. Miss Neff explains that better
and more interesting programs are OBJ.
tanned in this manner. The Club will
have four main divisions or depart
ments-household economics, litera-
ture. music and current events. In its
work. il will have The cooperation of
the Hastings Women's Club.
Another organization, to be known
as Modern Susans." is also being or
Ranized in connection with the sta
tons Women's activities. The pro.
grams of this club will concern them
selves with all kinds of household sub
$acts---cooking. care of the home, deco
rating and kindred topics.
While one division of the Home
makers Radio Club will occupy itself
with current events programs. II will
steer clear of all partisan politics. The
aim of this portion of the women's pro
grams will, however, include non-par-
tisan political summaries as well as in
teresting reports of outstanding events
in other fields.
In addition to these educational fea-