We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
A National Association of Farm Broadcasting award winner, Russell Nemetz believes he has always been wired to be a business owner. After serving on the Northern Ag Network's farm broadcast team for over 20 years-the majority of those years as its Ag Director-he was ready for another challenge. So, when the prospect of owning his own radio network surfaced, it was an opportunity he and his wife Rachel couldn't pass up. After all, telling agriculture's story is what Nemetz knows best.
That opportunity surfaced in 2019 after he assumed operations and eventually purchased the Evan Slack Network, another well-known Ag Radio Network in the Rocky Mountain West and Northern Plains. In 2020, the network, based in Denver, Colorado, was re-branded the Western Ag Network and is today powered by Nemetz Communications, Inc.
Nemetz's business is a broadcast and media production company that also specializes in advertising and marketing. Nemetz Communications currently has 69 radio affiliates which carry ag news and market programs in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
As one of agriculture's biggest advocates, Nemetz said: "It has been fun to re-assemble what I think is the best Ag Broadcast team in America: Lane Nordlund, Haylie Shipp, and myself. Collectively, we offer nearly 40 years of radio and television broadcast experience to our listeners and viewers. All of us truly have the passion to serve rural America and deliver the important ag news and markets that our farmers and ranchers depend on to feed the world."
Having been raised along the Milk River near Chinook, Nemetz claims that production agriculture has always been a part of his life. After graduating from Chinook High School in 1993, he attended Montana State University-Billings and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications in 1999.
About his roots, Nemetz commented: "I'm very proud to be from Chinook and to have been raised in a farming, ranching, and trucking family. It certainly helped prepare me for a career in ag media and enables me to bring even more credibility to the airwaves. And I'm also proud of my brother Chris for carrying on the family legacy and raising his family in production agriculture in our hometown. I guess it was just fate. I get to talk about cows and he gets to talk to the cows!"
After the laughter subsided, Nemetz talked freely about his business and his goals. "Our goal is to keep expanding our radio network's coverage area to other parts of the West where there's a need for high-quality ag programming. I have a great team in place who shares my vision. All of us also possess an incredible work ethic that was taught to us by our parents and grandparents. A work ethic is a true asset in reaching goals and being successful. This business venture is truly a team effort, and none of it would be possible without my entire team, which includes my family."
Despite feeling fortunate, Nemetz expressed surprises and discussed challenges. His first surprise about business ownership came in realizing how much knowledge a person needs in addition to an area of expertise. "You really need to be a jack of all trades until you can afford to have certain business services done for you professionally. Broadcasting is like being a rancher. Taking care of the cows is just one part of the job. To be successful, you also have to be a veterinarian, a mechanic, a nutrition specialist, and an accountant!"
Growing pains have posed the greatest challenge to date for Nemetz Communications. Although the business has experienced incredible growth in both radio affiliates and clients who choose to advertise with the network, keeping up with demand is a mixed blessing.
"Our radio network's footprint is huge, and we're doing our best to keep up with demand given the current team that's in place. But, this also presents a tremendous reward because it means we're doing something right, and that in itself will allow us to grow our team and provide our audience and clients with even better ag programming and ultimately a greater return on investment for our clients and their marketing dollars," Nemetz reported.
Regarding advice about business ownership, Nemetz shared this wisdom: "Do your homework and know what you're getting into. It really pays to be as prepared as possible. Make sure your family is just as committed as you are too. Being a business owner means long hours and days; it means working holidays and weekends to stay in business and set yourself apart from your competition. Another tip, pay attention to your competition, but don't let it consume you to the point you lose the entrepreneurial spirit that inspired you to be a business owner in the first place. Most importantly, if it feels good and the timing is right-go for it!"
That 'go for it' spirit follows Nemetz as he makes regular appearances on national television broadcasts like Cattlemen to Cattlemen, This Week in Agribusiness, Market Day Report, and Rural Evening News. These programs are not only available on RFD-TV but also on the Montana Television Network since that association has membership with the Montana Ag Network.
As Nemetz conducts business, his position involves extensive travel. He has had the opportunity to report on agriculture from across the region as well as the United States. Furthermore, he has been on trade missions to Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Taiwan.
When Nemetz is not broadcasting or travelling, family generally monopolizes his time. He described his three children: Tyler (21), Isabelle (7) and Oaklie (9 months) as keeping him "plenty busy" with their activities in Billings. "We like to hang out on the boat and play in the water during the summers and spend time in Arizona during the winter when we can."
Over the years, Nemetz has also volunteered his time on various boards and committees like the Montana Grazing Land Conservation Initiative, the Metra Park Board of Directors, MSU-Billings Foundation, and most recently the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation.
Although Nemetz suspects that someday he will slow down, for now, he claims to be having too much fun. "I've truly been blessed with an amazing career that's allowed me to travel around the world to meet some of the most amazing people in agriculture and then tell their stories on radio, television, and social media. One of the greatest compliments I receive is having someone approach me and say they have never met me, but they feel like I'm part of their family because they start and end their days with my voice on the radio or face on television. And for me, it doesn't get any better than that!"
