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Brandon Blue may not have a background in agriculture, but this born-and-raised Des Moines man thrives as an agricultural journalist and farm broadcaster.

In his time at Iowa State, Blue wrote for the VEISHEA beat and Opinion section at the Iowa State Daily and became the first news director for ISUtv. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a broadcast journalism focus, Blue began his career with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network alongside the Agribusiness Association of Iowa in 2012.

On the job, Blue produces daily television segments and multiple radio reports and covers international agriculture for WHO-TV in Des Moines and KCRG in Cedar Rapids. He additionally maintains the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network website and issues weekly crop reports with infographics.

“I just wanted to be a journalist and do what it is I think journalists do, which is be a resource for people,” says Blue. “If you wear clothes, fill up your car or eat food, agriculture has affected you in some way.”

Happily married to his wife, Krista, who works as a graphic designer at Gannett in Des Moines, Blue keeps his job exciting with his hunger for knowledge.

“I love to learn new things, and every day is something new. There are opportunities you can easily miss if you’re not ready to kind of take what the day brings,” says Blue. “Try to thrive where you are.”