OK Energy Today, Oklahoma’s only daily dedicated energy news product has been sold by founder and Managing Editor Jerry Bohnen and co-owner Tim West to the Funk Companies. The popular energy newsletter has more than 5,300 subscribers and the corresponding website, www.okenergytoday.com has more than 100,000 page views a month.
Funk commented, “Farming, Ranching and Energy are all businesses rooted in rural Oklahoma. The opportunity to also purchase the outstanding energy news product OK Energy Today was just too good to pass up. ”
Founder Jerry Bohnen will continue as Managing Editor for the energy newsletter. He started OK Energy Today in 2012. Bohnen is an awarding-winning journalist who has spent nearly 40 years as a radio news director and investigative reporter in Oklahoma.
His national honors include the Edward R. Murrow award from the Radio/TV News Directors Association and investigative honors from Investigative Reporters and Editors and the national journalism honorary, Sigma Delta Chi. He also received a Silver Gavel award from the American Bar Association for his work that led in part to a wrongfully convicted man freed from prison where he had been held for murder.
The Funk Companies also announced the purchase of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network from the owners, Watermark Farm Company.
Bob Funk Sr. said of the purchase: “Radio Oklahoma Ag Network has been the trusted source for agricultural news and information in the State of Oklahoma and I am excited for our organization to be a part of this venture.”
Tim West, the former owner of the network and General Manager, will remain on with the company in his present role. Legendary Director of Farm Programming, Ron Hays will also remain with the company in his present role. Hays, in his 45th year of farm broadcasting, will be backed up by Associate Director of Farm Programming Carson Horn and Market Specialist Dave Lanning.
West said of the sale, “It will be business as usual at the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, but with the benefit of the involvement of Bob Funk Sr. and his enduring commitment to agriculture in Oklahoma.”
Hays commented on the ownership change for the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, “Mr. Funk’s Express Ranches is the premiere purebred cattle operation in the US- and to be in the same corporate family will be both exciting and challenging as I look forward to finding ways to enhance our product offering and brand in the cattle industry and other segments of Oklahoma agriculture.”
The Radio Oklahoma Ag Network consists of 45 radio affiliates from across Oklahoma and surrounding states. It produces valuable programming to radio stations via agricultural newscasts, market reports, market analysis as well as a full range of digital products. Ron Hays Daily email is Oklahoma’s daily report on farm and ranch news, and has 5,000 daily subscribers. The website is www.oklahomafarmreport.com and is a “must read” for farmers, ranchers, political leaders and anyone interested in Oklahoma’s multibillion dollar business.
Both sales were effective March 29, 2019.