Twenty years ago, the idea of a brand-new, independent, statewide farm radio network in Indiana existed only on a blank sheet of paper. Today, that blank sheet has grown into a powerhouse voice reaching over 70 radio affiliate stations across Indiana, delivering vital daily markets, weather, and farm news to the state’s agricultural community.
On Saturday, September 19, Hoosier Ag Today (HAT) officially marked its 20th anniversary with a celebratory Gala held at the historic Stine Barn at Prophetstown near West Lafayette. The evening brought together ag leaders, commodity representatives, station partners, and farm broadcasters to honor two decades of service—and to highlight the lifetime achievements of the man who started it all.
A Distinguished Honor for an Indiana Ag Giant
The headline moment of the celebration came when Don Lamb, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), stepped to the podium on behalf of Indiana Governor Mike Braun to present Hoosier Ag Today founder and Chairman Gary Truitt with the “Distinguished Hoosier Award”. The honor recognizes individuals who have made unique and lasting contributions to the state of Indiana.
“Hoosier Ag Today is one of the best tools we could possibly have for telling the story of agriculture,” Lamb told the crowd. “So, you’ve really had an impact on what the Department of Agriculture has been able to do. Today, when we need something that has to do with telling our story, Hoosier Ag Today is such a good team member for that.”
For those who have watched Truitt’s career, the award was a fitting tribute to a broadcast journey that began in an unlikely place. Former Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock reflected on Truitt’s roots during his remarks, reminding attendees that the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Hall of Famer didn’t grow up on a farm.
“Gary didn’t start out on a farm,” Villwock noted. “Gary started out in Chicago. As a young man, his dream wasn’t to become an ag broadcaster—he wanted to play rock and roll music on the radio. But somewhere along the way, after thousands of interviews and countless hours talking with farmers, Gary learned to understand agriculture from the farmer’s perspective. Gary Truitt thinks like a farmer.”
Villwock recalled meeting Truitt in 2006 when the broadcaster laid out his vision to build a new network from the ground up. “I understood what Gary was trying to build, and Indiana Farm Bureau decided to give that vision a kick-start,” Villwock said. “Supporting Gary’s effort was probably one of the best investments Indiana Farm Bureau had ever made.”
Crafting a Vision From a Blank Sheet of Paper
When Hoosier Ag Today officially hit the airwaves on September 18, 2006, it was born out of pure grit, industry relationships, and a shared vision between Gary and his wife, Kathleen.
“When Kathleen and I decided to start the network 20 years ago, this was not anywhere in our ideas,” Truitt reflected during his anniversary address. “The vision we had never even came close to where Hoosier Ag Today is today, or to an event like this 20 years later. Couldn’t imagine it.”
Truitt recalled the moment the concept took shape: “When I talked to Kathleen about the idea, she handed me a blank piece of paper. And together, we started crafting that vision. What would it look like? How do you put together an organization that provides timely, credible, and reliable information to farmers, and yet build a business that’s based on honesty, integrity, and quality?”
Starting with just 10 brave radio station affiliates in communities like Logansport, Warsaw, Jasper, Crawfordville, and Batesville, HAT quickly gained momentum. The team pioneered remote broadcasting decades before it became a necessity, built custom software distribution systems, partnered with Purdue-trained meteorologists like Ryan Martin to deliver specialized farm weather, and brought on top-tier sales and broadcast talent to expand into Michigan.
Over the past two decades, HAT survived economic ups and downs, market shifts, and global disruptions—solidifying its role as an indispensable lifeline for rural Indiana.
Uncompromising Commitment: Stepping Boldly Into the Future
While the Gala provided an opportunity to look back, the core theme of the night was the road ahead. Today, Hoosier Ag Today is expanding far beyond traditional radio, using video webcasts, social media live-streaming, digital podcasts, and TV partnerships to bring the story of farming into mainstream urban living rooms.
Eric Pfeiffer, President and News Director of Hoosier Ag Today, emphasized that while media tools evolve, the network’s foundational mission remains unshakable.
“You just heard the vision—where it started, where it’s going,” Pfeiffer said. “The one thing you can’t question is this all started, Gary, by your uncompromising commitment to Indiana agriculture. Let me make you a promise to you and everyone else here: as our industry continues to evolve, that foundation is not going to budge.”
Pfeiffer underscored HAT’s unique position as a locally owned and operated business deeply embedded in the state’s agricultural fabric.
“Hoosier Ag Today is locally owned right here,” Pfeiffer said. “We are Indiana’s farm network, and we’re damn proud. Tools will change, technology will advance, markets will cycle, but our mission remains rock solid: to serve, support, and defend this community with unmatched credibility.”
Closing out the evening, Truitt passed the torch to the next generation of leadership with full confidence.
“We’re going to celebrate the past, but we’re going to step into the future, and all of you are going to do that with us,” Truitt concluded. “From now on, others are going to add to that vision. The vision of Hoosier Ag Today, like agriculture, has a future. It is a future that is ever-changing. If we stay true to the vision, we know it’ll be a good future and a successful future.”
A chronological timeline combining the key milestones of Gary Truitt’s career and the history of Hoosier Ag Today:
Pre-Indiana & Early Career
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1981 (September 1)
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Gary Truitt begins his farm broadcasting career in Missouri. During his first interview (with the Missouri Nut Growers Association), he discovers a passion for agriculture and farm families.
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1985
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Truitt moves to Indiana and builds the Indiana Agribusiness Radio Network (later renamed the AgriAmerica Network).
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1988
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Truitt is named the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Farm Broadcaster of the Year for the first time.
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The Founding & Growth of Hoosier Ag Today
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2005
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The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is officially formed.
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2006 (Early to Mid)
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After the AgriAmerica Network is sold, Gary Truitt and his wife, Kathleen, sit down with a blank piece of paper to craft the vision for a new, independent, Indiana-focused farm news network.
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Truitt pitches the concept to Don Villwock and Mark Sigler at Indiana Farm Bureau, securing key early support to kick-start the network.
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2006 (September 18)
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Hoosier Ag Today (HAT) officially launches its first broadcast with 10 original affiliate radio stations (including stations in Logansport, Warsaw, Jasper, Crawfordsville, and Batesville).
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2006–2008
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Truitt’s daughter, Anne, joins the company temporarily to help organize billing and administrative operations. Shortly after, Truitt hires Beth Carper to handle bookkeeping and business administration.
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Truitt hires Andy Eubank, a former radio executive from Logansport. The two set up studios at their respective homes in Zionsville and Lafayette, broadcasting remotely years before it became an industry standard.
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2015
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Truitt is named NAFB Farm Broadcaster of the Year for a second time—becoming the only two-time recipient in NAFB history.
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2019
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Hoosier Ag Today expands into Michigan by purchasing the Michigan Agriculture Information Network, launching Michigan Ag Today (MAT).
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2020
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Gary Truitt is inducted into the prestigious National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Hall of Fame.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the HAT team adapts to full remote news coverage and video conferencing, deepening its role as a vital news lifeline for Midwest producers.
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Next-Generation Leadership & Expansion
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2020–2022
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Eric Pfeiffer joins the news team in Jan. 2018 as Farm Broadcaster, and quickly becomes Vice President of News.
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C.J. Miller is hired in Feb. 2022 to expand news reporting.
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Molly Nichols joins from Missouri to lead station relations and sales, eventually doubling Michigan network sales and expanding digital product offerings.
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2022
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Truitt receives the State of Indiana AgriVision Award.
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2025-2026
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Pfeiffer is named President of Hoosier Ag Today on Jan. 1, 2025, with Gary Truitt transitioning to Founder and Chairman.
- Greg Allen is hired in July 2025 to create and develop video content for Hoosier Ag Today.
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In July 2026, HAT establishes television broadcast partnerships with WRTV and WISH-TV, bringing Indiana agricultural reporting to urban TV audiences across the state.
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2026 (September 19)
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Hoosier Ag Today officially celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a Gala at the Stine Barn at Prophetstown near West Lafayette.
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ISDA Director Don Lamb presents Gary Truitt with the “Distinguished Hoosier Award” on behalf of Governor Mike Braun.
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