Ed Johnson (broadcaster)

Last updated

Ed Johnson (born G. Edwin Johnson) was the founder of Agri Communicators, Inc., the parent company of the Agri Broadcast Network (ABN).

Contents

Career

Johnson was the founder, president, and CEO of Agri Communicators Inc., which included the Agri Broadcasting Network (ABN Radio), Ohio's Country Journal, a monthly farm newspaper, and the television program AgriCountry. Following Johnson's death in 2001, the family sold the ABN to Clear Channel Communications, who moved network operations from Columbus and merged the network and programming into its Lima, Ohio cluster.

In early 2007, AdVance Broadcast & Communication Ltd, parent company of the Buckeye Ag Radio Network acquired the ABN, reintroduced Johnson's well-known preference for broadcasting "from the farm," and in early 2009 returned broadcast operations to Columbus.

The network evolved out of Johnson's daily reports aired on Columbus radio station WRFD from 1967 to 1972. Leaving the station, he founded the ABN and ran it from his kitchen table in 1972. His weekend television program, Agri Country, aired on 11 television stations across Ohio until its cancellation in 2001 as part of the ABN sale. The program aired over 1,000 episodes over its twenty-year run.

"From the Farm, Good Morning!"

His morning radio show was broadcast from his farm in Ostrander (Delaware County). In 1972, he started the ABN and his daily reports were eventually broadcast to over 72 radio stations across Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia. Known for his infectious enthusiasm and passion for agriculture, Johnson always opened his broadcast with the trademark phrase "From the Farm, Good Morning!", followed by the crow of his legendary rooster sidekick, Abner.

Another staple of the Johnson years was the use of ABN "Stinger." [ permanent dead link ] This brief banjo riff was used as a sounder at the beginning of each ABN broadcast. Clear Channel discontinued the use of the stinger after acquiring ABN.

Death

Johnson survived a heart attack in the mid-1990s. Dedicated to his work, he was back at the microphone just days after his surgery. He suffered a massive heart attack in February 2001 and passed on at the age of 63.

Johnson was honored posthumously for his work by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in 2005 with enshrinement in the NAFB Hall of Fame.

Marilyn Johnson still resided in Delaware County until her passing in 2021.

https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Marilyn-Sue-Johnson-Masters?obId=23521411

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNCI</span> Radio station in Columbus, Ohio

WNCI is a commercial radio station licensed to Columbus, Ohio, featuring a top 40 (CHR) format known as "WNCI 97.9". Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station serves the Columbus metropolitan area and is the local affiliate for On Air with Ryan Seacrest. WNCI's studios are on West Fifth Avenue on Columbus' west side, while the transmitter is atop One Nationwide Plaza in the city's downtown. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WNCI broadcasts using HD Radio technology and streams online via iHeartRadio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBNS-TV</span> CBS-affiliated television station in Columbus, Ohio

WBNS-TV is a television station in Columbus, Ohio, United States, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Tegna Inc. alongside the company's sole radio properties, WBNS and WBNS-FM (97.1). The stations share studios on Twin Rivers Drive west of Downtown Columbus, where WBNS-TV's transmitter is also located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKKJ</span> Radio station in Chillicothe, Ohio

WKKJ is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Chillicothe, Ohio, United States. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and features local news and high school sports with agricultural news from ABN Radio.

WCTM were the call letters assigned to an FM radio station, and later an AM station, both licensed to Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, United States.

The Crosley Broadcasting Corporation was a radio and television broadcaster founded by radio manufacturing pioneer Powel Crosley, Jr. It had a major influence in the early years of radio and television broadcasting, and helped the Voice of America carry its message around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRFD</span> Christian talk radio station in Columbus–Worthington, Ohio, United States

WRFD is a commercial AM radio station licensed to both Columbus and Worthington, Ohio. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. WRFD and sister station WTOH share studios on North High Street in the northwest portion of Columbus.

WOSU-TV is a PBS member television station in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Owned by Ohio State University as part of WOSU Public Media, it is sister to public radio stations WOSU-FM (89.7) and WOSA. The three stations share studios on North Pearl Street near the OSU campus; WOSU-TV's transmitter is located on Highland Lakes Avenue in Westerville, Ohio.

WXGT is a commercial oldies radio station licensed to serve Columbus, Ohio, serving the Columbus metropolitan area. Owned by ICS Communications, Inc., the WXGT studios are located in the Brewery District, while the station transmitter resides in Columbus' Brandywine neighborhood.

ABN or abn may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ONN</span> Television channel

The Ohio News Network (ONN) – also referred to off-air as ONN Radio – is a radio news service in the U.S. state of Ohio. Based at Columbus, Ohio radio station WBNS-FM and owned by Dispatch Broadcast Group, It provides statewide newscasts and sportscasts for more than 90 affiliate stations throughout the day, in addition to some seasonal long-form programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WING</span> Radio station in Dayton, Ohio

WING is a commercial radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating with 5,000 watts along with studios, offices and transmitter located on David Road in Kettering. It is the first full-time commercial radio station in Dayton. It is currently a local affiliate for ESPN Radio and the Ohio State Sports Network, but is best known and remembered as Dayton's first Top 40-formatted station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPTW</span> Radio station in Piqua, Ohio

WPTW is a commercial AM radio station in Piqua, Ohio, United States, with a power output of 250 watts. It is owned by Muzzy Broadcasting Group. ABC News Radio and local news from hall of famer Terry Lafferty. Its music format is a mix of 1970s', 1980s' plus some 60s and 90s for flavor ' classic hits. Local high school sports coverage remains a tradition at the station in addition to Ohio State Buckeyes football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion Samuelson</span> American agricultural broadcast journalist

Orion Samuelson is a retired American broadcaster, known for his agriculture broadcasts and his ability to explain agribusiness and food production in an understandable way. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDLR</span> Radio station in Marysville, Ohio

WDLR is a commercial radio station licensed to Marysville, Ohio. The station primarily serves the Union County region, with limited coverage in the Columbus market. The station is under ownership of Brent Casagrande through licensee Delmar Communications, Inc, and features a locally programmed classic hits format.

WCSM-FM is an American FM radio station broadcasting at 96.7 MHz in Celina, Ohio. The station features a full-service hot adult contemporary format with local news, weather, sports and agricultural programming. It is co-owned with 1350 WCSM and the two stations simulcast with local news and farm programming, although WCSM's music format is Country music. WCSM-FM music programming comes from Westwood One's mainstream Adult Contemporary service evenings, overnights and weekends.

WKTX is a commercial AM radio station in Cortland, Ohio, serving the Youngstown metropolitan area. It broadcasts an urban gospel radio format in the daytime, along with some Black talk and Christian talk and teaching programs. At night it switches to Classic R&B music. The on-air identity is known as the "Drum 99.7 FM."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agri Broadcast Network</span> Radio news network in Ohio

The Ohio Ag Net is a radio news network in the U.S. state of Ohio. Ohio Ag Net programming is heard on more than 70 radio stations statewide, including the major markets of Canton, Toledo, and Columbus. It is the direct successor to the original Agri Broadcasting Network (ABN.)

The Michigan Farm Radio Network (MFRN) is a radio network that provides specialty programming geared toward farmers in Michigan. It is owned by Learfield Communications and is a sisters with the Michigan Radio Network.

WQCD is a commercial oldies radio station licensed to serve Delaware, Ohio, locally owned by Brent Casagrande through licensee Delmar Communications, Inc. The station primarily serves the Delaware County region and the northern portion of the Columbus metropolitan area as a full-time simulcast of WXGT in Columbus. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WQCD is relayed over analog Delaware translator W225CM (92.9 FM), and is also available online; as WXGT's FM translator W225CS also broadcasts on the same frequency, WXGT and WQCD brand as "My 92.9". The WQCD/WXGT studios are located in Columbus's Brewery District, while the WQCD transmitter is located in Delaware.

Helen E. Weiner Zelkowitz was an American broadcaster, the co-founder of two radio stations, and a member of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.