As Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association destinations across the state to gear up for a busy fall season, the organization took time to recognize Farm Director Pam Jahnke as the 2022 Lifelong Friend of Agricultural Tourism.
Getting up at 2 a.m. might shock some of her listeners, but for the Fabulous Farm Babe, it’s part of the business. Born in Northeastern Wisconsin, Pam grew up in agriculture. Raised on her family’s 200-acre dairy farm, she learned the “farm work ethic” firsthand.
Pam has been dedicated to agriculture throughout her life being actively involved in both 4-H and FFA activities. She happily served as a 4-H camp counselor, was a dairy exhibitor in county fairs, and even reigned as Oconto County’s Dairy Queen.
At UW-River Falls, Pam studied broadcast journalism and broad area agriculture. She started that campus’ first ever “Farm Show” on the radio and received the top national scholarship from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.
After college, Pam moved into her chosen field, doing farm broadcasting, radio and television, from Green Bay to Eau Claire. And she’s never looked back. Pam often says she feels like farm broadcasting and communicating on behalf of food producers is exactly what she was made for.
More recently Pam served as the 2010 president of NAFB, and in 2013 was named Farm Broadcaster of the Year.
She’s received many honors, including the “Honorary Recognition” award from UW-Madison CALS, her honorary “American FFA Degree”, and citations from the Wisconsin State Senate. Pam’s been named “Friend of Agriculture” by DATCP for her assistance in raising awareness of the “Harvest of Hope” program. She’s been honored as “Agri Marketing Person of The Year” by the Badger chapter of the
National Agrimarketing Association.
In her spare time, Pam is active in farming in partnership with her brother, sister and parents on the home farm. Pam is truly a friend of the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Industry.
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