Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here – and it Starts With You
Join the movement on The Big Show to champion water quality in Iowa.
Clean Water In Iowa Starts Here (CWISH) is a statewide radio campaign by iHeartRadio. With the help of agribusinesses, conservation professionals, and farmers, CWISH tells the story of how agriculture can improve water quality.
Listen in to The Big Show
Listen on: iHeart Radio, WHO AM 1040 and 600 Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
OUR IMPACT IN ONE YEAR
4M+
impressions made
40+
Businesses, nonprofits, agencies, and other partners featured
80%
Of Iowa farmers are reached by The Big Show!
65
Interviews aired
IN ONE YEAR
Meet the Voice of the Big Show
Bob Quinn, Your Trusted Voice in Farm Broadcasting
Farmers trust Bob Quinn. And we trust him with our story. Simply put, he speaks farm. As an esteemed farm broadcaster since 1983, Bob embodies trust and reliability for the ag community. And with a deep-rooted passion for ag and water quality, Bob’s not just a broadcaster, but a faithful friend, credible news source, and voice of inspiration.
“We heard you on the radio!”
That’s what farmers tell us again and again. Since 1924, WHO Ag Programming has been the go-to medium for Iowa farmers, reaching more ears and hearts than any other platform in the state!
Be part of Clean Water Wednesdays.
The story of agriculture and water quality is up to each and every one of us. We can’t tell that story without you. Co-sponsor a broadcast with us to share your business’s innovation, promote your hard work in water quality, or inform farmers about opportunities!
Learn More About
SIGN UP FOR A BROADCAST
It’s Always Live on Location
Why? The best learning happens on the farm, in the lab, or at the warehouse. Bob Quinn takes his audience on a statewide tour of farms and agribusinesses, giving them sounds of water quality work in action.
Here’s what you can expect.
- 2-hr broadcasts from 11 am to 1 pm at your business or farm
- 6 interview segments to feature your story
- Lunch hour networking
- Designed to spotlight ag’s leadership and opportunities for farmers to steward soil health and clean water
Our Goals for Every Show
Inform farmer listeners about water quality solutions and opportunities – many of which also improve their businesses!
Highlight conservation work of agri-businesses and organizations.
Plus – we rerun messages on consumer stations encourage urban and rural support of water efforts
“There are so many great soil health and water quality projects underway across the state. This campaign gives us a chance to highlight some of them. It also gives us an opportunity to thank our public and private partners who are working alongside us to make an impact in Iowa and downstream.”
– Mike Naig
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Broadcast Planning Tips: Get the Most Out of the Opportunity
Set the scene for connection
- Choose a visual or hands-on location
- If there’s a lot to see, host an informal tour
- Consider a networking event. Invite farmers, clients, partners, customers, or others.
- Stay for the whole broadcast and have intentional connections!
Picking the right guests
- Don’t worry, we’ll help!
- Include at least 1-2 farmers. Farmers listen to other farmers!
- Include an expert.
- Choose your company’s best speakers – the folks who talk clearly and concisely.
- Be open to pivoting in the moment. Bob knows what’s best!
The content (we help with this too!)
- Plan your show around one message that you want the listener to walk away with.
- Consider a “news hook” – in other words, what’s new, now, or next. For example, a new product or field day.
- Don’t forget a call to action.
- Practice at home. Time flies, so practice your 3-5 talking points!
Bring it home with these key points
- Take action. It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start somewhere!
- One Water: We all share water and accountability to keep it clean.
- Profitability can go hand in hand with sustainability.
- Clean water in Iowa starts here. And it starts with YOU!
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the CWISH Opportunity?
Through your partnership with iHeart Radio, you have a powerful opportunity to merge storytelling with education to empower Iowans to accelerate their involvement in Iowa water quality efforts. You can also use your sponsorship to:
- Offer up strategies, solutions, and actions listeners can take to improve our state’s water quality
- Share with listeners how water connects us all
- Illustrate what your organization is doing to make a difference for clean water
Who is the Key Audience for These Broadcasts from 11 A.M. – 1 P.m.?
80% of Iowa farmers who report listening to iconic farm broadcaster Bob Quinn’s program, The Big Show.
What are the goals of CWISH’s campaign to reach Iowa farmers?
- Raise awareness of priority water quality practices and opportunities for farm businesses that are economically and environmentally a good fit, encouraging them to take the next step in Iowa water quality stewardship.
- Highlight how organizations such as yours are enhancing water quality.
- Share tips and resources your organization offers in the area of clean water so that Iowa farmers can reach out to you to learn more.
Why should my organization recruit farmers in our network to speak on these broadcasts?
Survey after survey shows that farmers listen to – and trust – other farmers for information and decision-making. We strongly encourage each sponsor to recruit at least 2+ farmers (out of 6 total guests) to ensure the broadcast strikes a chord with farmers in the listening audience.
What homework should my organization do in preparation for the broadcast?
We recommend sponsors invest an hour brainstorming the content and guests—and our IAWA team is glad to support that process! For each broadcast you sponsor, please brainstorm:
- For co-sponsorships, 3 guests; For full sponsorships, 6 guests
- A theme (cover crops or no-till for example)
- An Iowa farm or other location to host the broadcast – a shed, barn, or tent with an extension cord is all we need!
What to Consider When Choosing Your Show’s Theme and Content
What is your organization’s “One Big Thing” that farmer listeners can take away from the broadcast?
Simply put, we want your organization to define the ONE big thing you want farmers in the audience (and Iowa residents in general) to learn through the broadcast. Your interviews can spotlight several different topics but keep that focus on the “One Big Thing” throughout!
What is your organization’s hook? “New, Now, Next”
You know better than anyone that farmers are busy people. They’re bombarded with information all day. The best way to perk up their ears? Provide a hook that feels urgent – something new, happening now, or coming up next. Your hook might be breaking ground on a new project, an upcoming event they should mark on their calendars, or a field day happening around the broadcast. A hook can also simply be what people are talking about – spring droughts, dirt on snowbanks, or the latest innovation in farming tech. Be sure to tie it back to the One Big Thing – the key takeaway you want them to walk away with.
What is your call to action?
This might be the same thing as your “One Big Thing.” What do you want listeners to do after the broadcast ends?
Not sure where to start?
We’re happy to set up a call!