Born on a dairy farm in Prospect, NY
Attended Holland Patent Central School, NY. Cornell University, Class of '49
Participated in the D-Day Invasion in France
Farm broadcaster since 1949. Built the Remsen, NY, radio station
Started the Ag Radio Network consisting of 136 stations in New York, New England, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.
President of Polonian Development Ltd, an Investment Co. located in Eastern Europe.
Chairman, Ed Lech Universal Import/Export Co.Inc.
Awards include:
Has broadcast programs throughout USA, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Russia and Africa.
Farmers in the United States listen to radio when they rise in the morning and do chores for 2 to 4 hours, then from time to time for a few hours during the day. They want the latest weather and prices for livestock and grain primarily. Farm legislation, because it impacts a farmers profits is also important, both state and federal. Information from farm organizations is welcome.
Farm listeners are informed on Farm Radio about the latest in management tools and information from agriculture educational services, research farms & others in agricultural commodities, agricultural inputs and any information important for a farmer to make management decisions.
Farm programs also include information important to the general public and food consumers. It brings a better understanding of agricultural issues and positions to the non-farming public.
Farm programs differ from region to region. In some parts of the United States there are only 3 or 4 major commodities produced, so farm programs concentrate upon them.
In the Northeast, where dairy is 65% of the farm production, there are also over 250 items produced such as billions of dollars worth of beef, hogs, poultry & eggs, a large variety of fruits & vegetables, honey, maple syrup, horticulture & floriculture products, herbs, and many other specialty crops both plant & animal.
A farm broadcaster in order to attract and hold a large audience in the Northeast must have practical farm experience and a sound education in agricultural production and economics because he is an educator.
The best philosophy for such a broadcaster is to include some information on every broadcast "that would help some farm listeners make more profit".
Without being a comedian the successful farm broadcaster in the Northeast should be serious when informing and educating his listeners, but at times, lighthearted and humorous displaying a pleasing personality.
Farm broadcasting in the United States, in order to be successful, must attract advertising dollars for their programs. Some broadcasters actually do the sales work while others only advise salespeople for the company they work for. The farm broadcasters should be acquainted with every major agri-business representative in their listening area. They should get to know them personally and when there is bonfire news about their products, the representative should be interviewed on a featured broadcast.
Farm Broadcasters are most successful when they know all of the feed, seed, fertilizer, farm chemical, farm credit, farm machinery, banks, hardware stores and others who supply their farm listeners.
