640 On Your Dial: The Iowa State College Bulletin (1946)

FROM COUNTRY GENTLEMAN (Reprinted through courtesy of Country Gentleman, February, 1946) For almost a quarter of Iowa’s century of statehood, Station WOI has voiced the off-campus educational program of the Agricultural and Engineering Extension Services of Iowa State College. Tax sup¬ ported, it sells no commercial time. W. I. Griffith, director of the station for 20 years, puts its policy in this nut¬ shell: “To bring the best the college has to offer to as many people as possible.” That best is programed by Dick Hull and produced by Ed Wegener, two young men whose enthusiasm for radio is ex¬ ceeded only by their determination to use on public-service programs the profes¬ sional technique lavished on the big-time shows. WOI avoids either condescending to or back-slapping its audience. And it believes in widening dial choices available to Iowans by making its offerings contrast —rather than compete—with commercial programs. Dale Williams, WOI’s widely respected farm editor, and others who present gen¬ eral information programs, can draw upon nearly 500 faculty members—experienced in radio technique—for authoritative dis¬ cussion in their special fields. A major portion of livestock in the - world’s heaviest producing hog area moves to market on R. C. Bentley’s round-the- clock market news service, which uses full¬ time leased wire facilities of the U. S. De¬ partment of Agriculture plus the produce- poultry service of Western Union. Martha Duncan’s “Homemaker’s Half Hour” attracts 150,000 yearly requests for recipes and college bulletins—for Martha blends friendliness and information with rare skill. Her nimble-witted philosophy is known throughout the state and beyond. Music comes in for a lion’s share of pro¬ gram time and listener acclaim. Many an Iowan has grown up on the 20-year-old Music Shop which goes on the air for an hour and fifteen minutes each morning at 7:30 with programs ranging from Brahms to Victor Herbert. A single appeal for mail once brought in 7,000 letters from folks who felt they owed their enjoyment of good music largely to this program. “Matins,” an early morning program of music and devotional talks, has for years had its own large and loyal following, which increased further during wartime. Good reading hasn’t been overlooked either. The Radio Book Club, organized in 1930 as a nonprofit lending library of the air, now totals 60,000 “subscribers.” SPRING SYMBOL Not just yet—but soon. It won’t be long until the green fields of Iowa corn start their climb from the earth to eventual ripening. Corn to feed the hungry of Europe and Asia. Corn for live¬ stock all over the broad plains of America. This year, however, Iowa farmers in the eastern part of the state are facing the serious problem of corn borers again. This year they’ve decided to do something about it. In the past 4 years, the borer has caused total destruction to Iowa corn which has run to the alarming figure of 9 million dollars. That’s the equivalent of 9 million bushels of Iowa corn. On April 27, farmers will learn how to plow clean to control the borer. This is the one measure which appears to kill out the borer most effectively. From April 21 to 27, the state will observe corn borer control week. WOI, through its farm edi¬ tor, Dale Williams, will publicize this week and will continue to give tips on how to combat pests which cost the farmer money every year.