By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post
Listen to the full interview with Derek Beck on our Kubota Podcast
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Derek Beck, Operations Manager at Eagle Media in North Platte, will be leaving the company effective January 1 after purchasing Your Ag Network from longtime broadcaster Monte James.
Beck confirmed his departure during a recent on-air announcement, noting he gave Eagle Media his notice about two months ago. His final day with the company is December 31.
Beck, along with business partner Parker James, has purchased Your Ag Network, an agricultural radio network that provides market and farm reports across much of the Midwest. Beck said the partnership will be a 50-50 ownership arrangement.
Your Ag Network airs on approximately 83 stations throughout the region, including Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Colorado, with plans to expand into Kansas.
Beck said one of the network’s key features is its overnight trading coverage, reflecting the global nature of today’s agricultural markets.
“One of the few networks that offers an overnight trading report,” he said. “The markets are global now… things happen overnight.”
As part of his new role, Beck will personally take over early morning market reports, with his first report airing at 6 a.m. He will also continue producing and expanding rodeo-related content, including the popular Territorial Rodeo Update.
Beck has worked closely with Monte James for several years, serving as a producer for the Territorial Rodeo Update and other reports. James will continue contributing content, including the Hot Barn Report, while stepping back from ownership.
“He’s been one of my best buds for 20-some years,” Beck said. “This opportunity, in some ways, came out of nowhere, but in a lot of ways it’s been in the background for a long time.”
Beck said the move represents a long-held goal of business ownership for himself and his wife, Carla, who will remain employed at Eagle Media.
“We’ve wanted to own our own business for years,” Beck said. “Radio makes me really happy… and this is something new.”
Although he is leaving his day-to-day role at Eagle Media, Beck said he is not leaving North Platte.
“We’re not moving. We’re not leaving town,” he said. “One of the cool things about this new gig is I don’t have to leave to do it.”
Beck described his time at Eagle Media as a highlight of his radio career and said the departure is bittersweet.
“This has really been a highlight for me at Eagle,” he said. “As I leave, it’s a little bittersweet because this was a really good stop on my radio career here with Eagle in North Platte.”