RFD-Logos_FINAL_112525_RGB_SolidGold-Network_3877x538.png

At RFD Network, we celebrate the heart of Rural America. For over 25 years, we’ve been the trusted voice for agriculture and rural lifestyles, creating authentic content that honors the traditions, values, and hard work that built our nation.

Remembering Rural Media Group Founder and President Patrick Gottsch and His Contribution to Rural America

Patrick Gottsch, the Founder and President of Rural Media Group, passed away over the weekend at the age of 70.

He was a champion of rural America, and devoted more than half his life to empowering farmers and ranchers, giving them a voice at the table.

At 70 years old, he continued to live life to the fullest and packed more experiences into a week than most people do in a lifetime.

Related Stories
Meteorologist
Former Market Day Report anchor Janet Adkison was inducted into the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame, recognizing over 20 years of service sharing stories that impact Rural America.
Today in Wyoming, Rural Media Group’s late founder, Patrick Gottsch, will be inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame! The rodeo’s CEO, Tom Hirsing, joined us to share why Patrick is so deserving of this honor.
“We’re living in a moment of massive change—in agriculture, in media, and in leadership . . .”

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Jael Cruikshank, the newly elected Western Region Vice President, shares her story on this week’s FFA Today.
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen reviews the history of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and outlines how shifting definitions across multiple administrations have created regulatory confusion for landowners.
Leslee Oden, president of the National Turkey Federation, and Jay Jandrain, CEO of Butterball, joined us in the studio on Monday to discuss the history, significance, and expectations surrounding this year’s presidential turkey pardon.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates that the move will save farmers and ranchers $2.5 billion each year. The group warns that new methods for calculating the adverse-effect wage rate would result in lower pay for foreign workers.
Higher rail tariffs and tighter Canadian supplies will keep oat transportation costs firm into 2026.
These “USDA Foods” are provided to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) nutrition assistance programs, including food banks that operate The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and are a vital component of the nation’s food safety net.