NFU honors Ed Slusarczyk for 56 years in broadcasting.

The National Farmers Union awarded Ed Slusarczyk, founder of the Ag Radio Network, the Milt Hakel Award for excellence in agricultural communications, the NFU's highest honor for ag journalism. "Ed's progressive outlook has helped to create an awareness of farmers, ranchers and rural America that has touched people across the world," said Dave Frederickson, president of NFU. "We are very proud to present this award to him and congratulate him on more than 50 years of dedication to farm broadcasting." Slusarczyk began broadcasting farm radio programs in 1949 over WIBX in Utica, N.Y. In 1957, he built radio station WREM in Remsen, N.Y., and went on to form the Ag Radio Network in 1976 to broadcast his farm programming across the northeastern United States. The award was established in 1990 in honor of Milt Hakel, a lifelong supporter of National Farmers Union and long-time editor of the organization's Washington Newsletter.