"Serving agriculture, the basic industry. This is George Atkins."
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It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of founder George Atkins, in his 93rd year, on November 30, 2009.
George Atkins listened to farmers. And his best advice to broadcasters was just that: listen to the farmers. George learned from farmers. In fact, we don't think George ever met a farmer from whom he didn't learn something.
George was a well known CBC farm broadcaster in the fifties, sixties and seventies. Always an advocate for farming and the family farmer, he signed off his radio reports with "Serving agriculture, the basic industry, this is George Atkins."
In 1979, following retirement from the CBC, George created Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (since renamed Farm Radio International), the world's only organization dedicated to supporting small farmers and their families through the use of radio - the one medium they all use. Since then he has sustained that organization with his leadership, vision and boundless energy.
Our thoughts are with his wife Janet, their four daughters and their families, as they come to terms with the loss of a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
At Farm Radio International, we will miss his regular encouragement, good humour and sense of celebration. We are strengthened by the example of his persistence, and we will honour that memory in our work every day.
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In this video Dr. Atkins tells us the story of how he founded Farm Radio International following a bus trip in Zambia in 1975. Hundreds of millions of people around the world now receive appropriate, timely and relevant information through Farm Radio International's network, all because of a little idea that came from George. |
If you are interested in supporting the work that George started you can click here.
