10/09/1991

Pioneer Wiregrasss Broadcaster Honored by Auburn University

AUBURN, Ala.—Gene Ragan, long time radio and television farm broadcaster for WTVY in Dothan, was honored recently by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University for his many contributions to agriculture and to the Wiregrass area. The presentation was made during the Alabama Broadcasters Association's annual meeting on
the Auburn campus.

Ragan was cited for his support of Auburn's agricultural research program and his dedication to the spread of scientific agriculture via his broadcast, which began in 1953 on radio. In 1958, he took his show to television--in addition to radio. During his career, Ragan has produced, written and been on-air personality on approximately 30,000 radio and television farm shows.

In making the award, Lowell Frobish, director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, noted that Ragan is still going strong, currently producing 16 television and radio shows weekly. Frobish noted that, "It is quite a legacy to leave that Gene Ragan came into farm broadcasting when there were many and he remains when there are none." Frobish explained that Ragan is the only full time farm broadcaster remaining in Alabama.

"When we first started in television, I shot all my shows with a 16 mm movie camera and sent the film to Jacksonville, Fla., for processing. Now, about 90 percent of our television shows are done live with a remote unit," Ragan recalled.

Ragan, who earned a degree in animal husbandry from the University of Georgia, got involved in radio broadcasting as part of his first job with the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in Seminole County, Georgia. His first radio show in Dothan was in 1953, and for several years he wrote the Farm Page for the Dothan Eagle newspaper.

In addition to his broadcasting career, Ragan has been farm director for South Trust Bank in Dothan for the past 18 years. In this role, he coordinates the Tri-States Agricultural and Agri-business Panel. This group of ag leaders addresses pressing issues of farmers and provides solutions or guidelines to legislative and business people who impact on agriculture.

When asked to discuss his favorite shows during his 38-year broadcasting career, Ragan separates them into "my favorites and my audience's favorites. My audience's favorites would probably be coverage of our Chitlin Supper and later Possum Supper. These were annual events for many years, and people from throughout the tri-state area attended. My favorites would be coverage of the bull testing program and catfish research at Auburn and a recent show we did on the history and research accomplishments of the Ag Experiment Station at the Wiregrass Substation in Headland," Ragan noted.

Throughout his broadcasting career, Ragan has covered scientific advancements in agriculture and has presented them in an understandable way to two or three generations of farm families in southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia and the Florida panhandle. In fact, the plaque presented to Ragan during the Broadcasters Association meeting, recognizes his dedication to the spread of "scientific agriculture" via his radio and television broadcasts.

Gene Ragan also practices what he preaches! He lives on a farm and for many years raised purebred Charolais cattle. Now, he raises pine trees--and he does it well. In 1986, he won the Alabama Forestry Association's Treasure Forest Award for soil, wildlife and forest conservation. In 1989, he was designated as an Alabama Tree Farmer.

"We were pleased to recognize a man of Gene Ragan's character and abilities during the recent meeting of the Alabama Broadcasters Association," said Frobish. "He has been an outstanding supporter and friend of Auburn University, and especially of our agricultural programs for many years," Frobish concluded.

-30-

By:
Roy Roberson