Special Report

Media tent in same hands more than a quarter century

When Gene Hemphill stepped forward to manage the Farm Progress Show Media Tent, the sound of typewriters was part of the cacophony. The tent is nothing close to quiet, but the clatter of keys, these days belonging to laptop computers, is muted compared to a generation ago.

“This is a fun event each year,” says Hemphill, who minds the tent on behalf of New Holland. “It does feel strange, though, knowing that when I look out at reporters in here that probably 90 percent of them are more than 25 years younger than me.”

AUDIO: Gene Hemphill (4 min. MP3)