For more than 60 years KELO Radio’s Bill Zortman has been giving rural citizens a voice. And today, March 11, National Farmers Union (NFU) recognized Zortman for his coverage of agriculture issues, presenting him with the Milt Hakel Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award during the organization’s national convention held in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“This man has helped cover the story of agriculture and he has done a lot for us,” said Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union who presented the award to Zortman.
Reflecting on his long broadcast career, Zortman said his focus at 78 remains the same as it was as a 16-year-old covering sports for his hometown papers, the Onawa Democrat and the Onawa Sentinel.
“I let people have their say. That’s my job. That’s what a broadcaster does – whether it is with a pen, or whether it is with a microphone or a TV camera,” explained Zortman, host of It’s Your AgriBusiness radio show.
Newspaper, radio and television – Zortman has worked in all news mediums throughout his career.
Growing up on a sheep farm in rural Iowa, Zortman got his start as a high school sophomore covering local sports for his hometown paper. He received a $100 broadcast scholarship to attend the University of Iowa. As a broadcast journalism student he began working as a radio show host and play-by-play sports reporter for KWAD radio station.
In 1968 he was called to military service with the 185th Air Guardsman of Sioux City and moved to New Mexico’s Cannon Air Force Base – but not before he was voted by Iowa City listeners as “The Most Popular Voice on the Radio.”
When he wasn’t working as a clerk on base, Zortman worked for the local radio station as a sports reporter. In 1969, release papers in hand, Zortman took a job working for an Amarillo, Texas TV station.
“I got the job because when I was in New Mexico, the station sent me a camera and asked me to shoot local news. I’d shoot stories and find a truck to take the film back to Amarillo which was 105 miles away.”
The TV station hired Zortman to build their coverage network.
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Photo Credit: south-dakota-farm-bureau
Categories: South Dakota, Business