For decades producers and those tied to the agriculture industry have heard the famous line “Good afternoon, and good farming”, as 620CKRM Ag News Director Jim Smalley signs off his show”Saskatchewan Agriculture Today”.
Smalley has been the agricultural news director at 620CKRM for 40 years and recently announced that he will be retiring in the spring.
The folks at Canadian Western Agribition couldn’t let Jim work his last Agribition without some recognition.
Smalley hasn’t missed an Agribition since 1975, covering the stories of hard-working ranchers and producers, the latest in technology and innovation, and bringing to life the stories of these people who put food on our table and money in our pockets.
The team at Canadian Western Agribition gifted Smalley with a full lifetime share of agribition, which makes Smalley a permanent part of the agribition family.
And it didn’t stop there.
At every Agribition, there is a media room where journalists can get all the information they need, conduct interviews, as well as write and produce their stories.
Agribition announced it will now be known as the “Jim Smalley” News Room. It’s a fitting tribute to a humble guy who grew up on a farm in Corning, Saskatchewan, where he worked with his family by day and listened to his radio by night. It was listening to radio stations in Saskatchewan and outside of it that inspired Smalley to become a radio announcer, and now almost 50 years later, he is edging toward retirement.
Lasting 50 years in a career is remarkable, but in the cost-conscious, cutthroat world of broadcasting, having a career that long is an incredible achievement.
It’s a testament to Smalley’s professionalism, personality and determination.
Smalley plans to retire at the end of April, which will carry him to his 50th anniversary in broadcasting, so he can focus on his coin collecting and spending time with his wife, Penny.
You can bet there will be more tributes and kind words for Smalley as he slowly backs away from a career that has served him and so many others so well.
He deserves each and every one.
