November 9, 2017
RFD-TV’s “Rural Tractor Brigade” was awarded a 2017 Cablefax Award for “Best Branded Content.” The award was announced at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles for the annual Cablefax Program Awards ceremony, which recognizes the cable industry’s best programming content. RFD-TV also received honorable mentions for our event coverage of RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN rodeo and our special live show, “Rural America Live - Legends: Kenny Rogers,” which aired in July.
For its participation in the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Parade, RFD-TV brought eight different tractor brands together to unite under the American flag to showcase hardworking rural American farmers, and highlight modern agriculture production. All tractor brands were invited. Participating brands included Case IH, Challenger, John Deere, Kubota, Mahindra, Massey-Ferguson, and New Holland. In addition, members of the National FFA, the world’s premier youth organization, carried the “Rural Tractor Brigade” banner in front of a colorful tractor display, showcasing our nation’s farmers and ranchers, the most efficient food and fiber producers in the world.
The RFD-TV and RURAL RADIO news teams covered the “Rural Tractor Brigade” on the “Market Day Report” and the “Rural Evening News” leading up to the inauguration and on the day of the event with live hits on the air and features online. In addition, the coverage was simulcast on RURAL RADIO Channel 147 on SiriusXM.
“RFD-TV is on a mission to reconnect city with country again,” stated Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of RFD-TV. “The invitation from the Inaugural Parade Committee to include agriculture in this celebration with tractors going down Pennsylvania Avenue is confirmation that progress is being made. We are proud to have the Rural Tractor Brigade represent agriculture in Washington D.C. on this historic day and hope that this kicks off a year where there is a new appreciation for the importance of working together is recognized and embraced by all in this great country.”
Several leaders of agriculture associations represented their organizations by driving a tractor in the parade. Drivers included Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation; Ron Moore, President of the American Soybean Association and his wife Deb; Randy Krotz, CEO of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance; John Weber, President of the National Pork Producers Council; and Jim Odle, Co-founder of Superior Livestock Auction. Past and current Presidents of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Mark Oppold, and Max Armstrong, also served as drivers to represent rural media. Additional drivers included Duncan Smith of Sinclair Broadcasting and Patrick Gottsch, Founder and President of RFD-TV and RURAL RADIO Channel 147 on SiriusXM.