Legendary Farm Broadcaster Derry Brownfield Dead at 79

Gary Cooper General

Derry BrownfieldIt came as shocking news Saturday to hear Derry Brownfield had died. I’ve known Derry Brownfield most of my career in this business and I’m proud to be among those he considered a friend. I doubt anyone ever agreed with all of Derry’s views but all would likely agree he would not hold back in sharing them, most of the time in a very entertaining way.

Co-founder of Missouri-based Learfield Communications with Clyde Lear in the early 1970’s, the Brownfield Network launched in January 1973. The network has since grown to air reports on hundreds of affiliate stations in several midwest states. Learfield Communications has also grown substantially into other areas of communications under Lear’s continued ownership, and it continues operating Brownfield Network as one of its key media properties.

This fall would be the 20th consecutive year I’ve joined a few close friends to hunt deer on Derry’s property in central Missouri. Most years a highlight of the trip has been an evening at the ranch with Derry’s storytelling, as he shared first hand so many of the sayings for which he has become famous. One you’ll find headlined if you visit his podcasts website, is “The best time to make friends is before you need them.”

If you’re connected to agriculture in any way, or even if you’re not, you’ll enjoy learning more about this very unique individual and seeing and hearing some of his work, thanks to a website post by good friend, associate and hunting buddy Chuck Zimmerman at AgWired.com.

Derry’s memory will live on in so many of us in so many different ways, and many of his stories and sayings will be passed on for generations.