The HAT Story
Timely. Relevant. Credible
Indiana agriculture is one of the most productive industries in the nation. Eighty percent of Indiana land is involved in agricultural production. Indiana ranks 5th in corn production and is the 8th largest exporting state in the nation. Indiana is in the top 5 states in poultry, eggs, pork, dairy, and ethanol production. Agriculture is a major economic driver in the state, contributing over 31.2 billion dollars to the state economy. The farmers that make up this industry depend on a timely, relevant, and credible source for information every day. Hoosier Ag Today is that source. With the largest network of local radio stations across the state, several web and digital channels, and a convenient mobile app, Hoosier Ag Today has become the source that farmers rely on to stay informed. Every day, HAT radio stations reach 50% of Indiana farmers; and our e-newsletter reaches ~8,000 people, mostly farmers and agribusiness leaders. A team of nationally known farm broadcasters make Hoosier Ag Today the largest farm news organization in the state. Network programs contain futures prices, analysis, an Indiana farm forecast, plus on-location coverage of state, national, and international farm news.
How it Began
In 1985, Gary Truitt arrived in Indiana and began building a farm radio network. By 2005, Truitt was the most-listened-to farm broadcaster in the state, but an ownership change shifted the focus of that network away from Indiana. In 2006, Truitt founded Hoosier Ag Today, dedicated to serving Indiana. Since then, Truitt has gathered a team of talented broadcasters and built the largest ag radio network in Indiana. HAT has been an innovator in using web, mobile app, and social media platforms to deliver timely information to Indiana farmers. In 2019, Hoosier Ag Today purchased a network in Michigan and founded Michigan Ag Today. It is now the most listened to radio network in the state.
The HAT Team
Network President Andy Eubank has over 50 years of broadcast experience. He understands the importance of providing relevant content to listeners. Since 2007, Eubank has been broadcasting agricultural information, including farm news, markets, and weather. His reports have been honored by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
Eric Pfeiffer directs coverage of all HAT content as Vice President of News. He regularly reports from farm fields and state and national agricultural conferences and conventions. His knowledge of farm policy issues and extensive news contacts gives his reports depth and detail. His work has been honored by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
Assistant News Director C.J. Miller was born on a farm and grew up in a rural community in Shelby County, Indiana. He has worked at some of Indiana’s most prestigious radio stations after attending Ball State University. He joined the HAT news team in 2022 and added a new dimension to HAT content. His coverage goes beyond the headlines and tells the story of the men, women, and youth that are the fabric of Hoosier agriculture.
HAT Chief Meteorologist Ryan Martin is a Purdue trained meteorologist who produces the kind of forecast farmers really want to hear. That is because Ryan also farms in northeast Indiana. His daily radio and on-line weather segments feature the kind of agronomic detail left out of most other weather reports.
Video Specialist and Special Projects Manager Elise Koning is passionate about telling the story of agriculture and regularly produces special radio feature stories for HAT. She also hosts the popular HAT Soil Health Podcast that focuses on cover crops, soil fertility and conservation. In addition, she shoots many of the videos that appear on the HAT YouTube and social media channels. She is a past Indiana FFA State Officer and farms in Parke County.
Sabrina Halvorson is a nationally known agriculture journalist who regularly contributes content to HAT. She specializes in covering national ag topics and on specialty crop industries. Her knowledge and extensive news contacts bring timeliness and credibility to her reports.
As Director of Sales, Molly Nichols works with agribusinesses to help them reach their customers and tell their story. Her expertise in marketing and communication allows her to customize a plan for each company using radio, digital and/or video to meet their needs and budget.
Chairman Gary Truitt founded Hoosier Ag Today in 2006. He has over 45 years in farm broadcasting and is a recognized voice for agricultural information. Truitt has traveled extensively covering agriculture, both in the U.S. and on four other continents. He has been honored with numerous awards for his work and has been inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame. In 2022, Truitt was given the AgriVision Award by the state of Indiana.