The people you meet...

Today is the kind of day that makes my job fun.

High Plains Journal/Midwest Ag Journal columnist Trent Loos stopped by the Journal office in Dodge City to chat about the upcoming National Cattleman's Beef Association Annual Convention and Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn., Feb 1-3, and his new book "The Best of Trent" - a collection of his columns. Trent has been contributing to the Journal for 10 years, but this was my first time meeting the Nebraska cowboy. He's entertaining, clever and a bit sarcastic.

I think it's safe to say that we're going to get along just fine as we work together in the future.


Trent will be teaming up the Journal team in Nashville at our NCBA Trade Show booth, and it will be a lot of fun. We'll be doing some new things in 2012 that will enhance the coverage of the convention. Trent will be thrown into the mix as well. He'll be doing live radio shows, signing his new book, and hanging out in the booth to chat with readers and trade show attendees.

While we were chatting about our "plans" for the show I soon found out that Mr. Loos tends to shy away from plans and prefers to "fly by the seat of his pants" - and that can send public relations/marketing people like me into a nervous sweat. However, we can adapt because that's the other part of this gig - going with the flow.  Part of going with the flow was an impromptu decision to tape Thursday's edition of his radio show Rural Route in the Journal's conference room.

It was the most fun I've had before 10 a.m. in a really long time.

Loos decided to invite Journal editor, Holly Martin to join him on the radio show - and it was quite entertaining to say the least.

Trent Loos chats with HPJ editor, Holly Martin in Dodge City.

Martin talked about the Journal's rich history and how the structure of the publication differs from others in this country. The Journal is family owned, and has been since it's inception as a weekly county paper. It was bought following WWII and branched out to an agriculture publication and has grown from there.

"We have evolved into a regional agriculture publication spanning 12 states in the High Plains and Midwest," said Martin. "We have subscribers in all 50 states, and some foreign countries as well."

Martin and Loos also talked about the Journal having a subscriber base that is 100 percent paid.

"People will pay for quality," said Martin. "The Journal becomes a part of farm families, and they invite us into their home each week."

The conversation wasn't just a historic lesson, it was also filled with fun banter and an official announcement of Loos's partnership with the Journal at the NCBA Trade Show. Loos said that NCBA after hours should be what the Journal covers instead, but Martin wasn't as quick to jump on that idea.

"We solve all the world's problems after five," said Loos. "Including those we create."

Loos and the Journal team will be in booth No. 974 during the NCBA Trade Show. Copies of "The Best of Trent" will be available for $20 in the booth, and Loos will also be signing copies.

Listen to the full radio show (when prompted just click open/or save to download to your computer)