Behind the Scenes

More on Bayer CropScience Germany trip

Tom Steever, as was mentioned in the previous post, spent some time in Germany earlier this month. In his words:

Kyle Bauer (KFRM, Clay Center, KS) and I were the only two U.S. farm broadcasters among the international journalists covering Bayer CropScience’s Global News Conference in Monheim, Germany, September 4.  Hosted by Bayer’s Steve Meister (RTP, North Carolina), we were also in the company of Pam Golden, editor of Southern Farmer and Rich Keller, with AgProfessional in Kansas City.

It’s interesting to hear reactions of other farm and business journalists from the far-flung corners when they learn there’s such a thing as a “farm broadcaster.”  We met and visited with news types from Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Argentina and a TV crew from Serbia.  I also visited with a local radio business reporter from Germany.  Those are just the ones I remember off hand. 

They seem to be just as interested in how we cover such an event as we are in how they cover it.  It seems to be common for others to open conversation with an apology for their English.  I’m quick to point out that it beats the dickens out of my Serbian!

I tucked the German trip between coverage of the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, which I did with Brownfield colleagues Cyndi Young and Julie Harker; and Husker Harvest Days, which I covered through its end Thursday, September 11 in Grand Island, Nebraska.