9 minute read
From Small Town to Big News
From Small Town to Big News
The rural roots of KCCI's Stacey Horst and Eric Hanson.
By April Pearson
You know Stacey Horst and Eric Hanson from KCCI — as leaders of the news team, they’ve covered stories from across the state for decades. But did you know these seasoned pros started in rural Iowa? Both grew up on family farms with values that shaped their childhoods, educations and careers.
You both grew up on farms, Stacey near Wall Lake, and Eric near Roland. Tell me about it.
Stacey Horst: I didn’t realize how special it was to grow up on a farm, because where I come from, there were a lot of farm kids. It wasn’t until I went to college that I met people who didn’t have a similar experience. Trying to explain what it was like to raise cattle and hogs, to walk beans and detassel corn was really something.
My dad and grandpa had corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle. My mom, who also came from a farm family, did a lot of making meals, running guys to the field, picking up equipment parts — the choreography of keeping the farm and household running. And she also worked outside the home, which was rare. She was a superwoman.
Eric Hanson: My grandpa had seven sisters and no brothers. So when his dad got sick, he dropped out of school after eighth grade to become a full-time farmer. He farmed until he passed away about 16 years ago. My dad and uncle also raised hogs, corn and soybeans. After they retired, my brother and cousin took over the farm, which I’m so grateful for. I knew pretty early on that, while I enjoyed living on a farm, farming wasn’t for me. It’s a blessing to know that the same farm my grandpa lived on is the same farm my parents lived on, and now my brother lives on.
Any fun memories from the farm?
SH: One of my chores was to bottle-feed the calves. That was fun — I got to get close to them, knowing that what I was doing was keeping these little animals alive.
EH: One of the — I won’t say traumatic — but one of the earliest things I remember was helping my dad with the springtime lambs. I remember him saying, “This ewe is having trouble; we have to pull out the lamb. You have a little hand — why don’t you get in there and pull it out?” I remember that.
Stacey, you went to the University of Iowa, and Eric, you went to Wartburg College. How did growing up on the farm help prepare you for college?
SH: From watching my dad and grandfathers, I knew that hard work must be done. You have to plow through, pardon the pun, and figure it out. I realize that farm labor is different from college classes, but there are some struggles there, too. You’ve got to dig in, assess the problem and figure out the best solution — and that’s truly farming every day. So, I learned a sense of fortitude.
EH: I joined 4-H in fourth grade and did various projects, from dog obedience to photography to woodworking. I was raising hogs for 4-H and had to figure out the budget. My dad was really good at bookkeeping and planning everything on the farm, and those organizational lessons paid off. Once I got to high school, I was involved in school activities, 4-H, church group and helping on the farm. So, time management skills helped me become a multitasker and get a lot done, which also helped me in college.
Both of you left the state early in your career. What made you come back to Iowa?
SH: The opportunity to work at KCCI. I watched this TV station growing up; even back then, I was a news hound. I was working in Raleigh, North Carolina, and I got a call from Dave Busiek, the news director. He said there was an opening, and would I be interested? I jumped at the chance to come home. It was a wonderful opportunity I didn’t think I would ever have. If you’ve watched KCCI for any length of time, you know nobody ever leaves. It’s a great place to work. So when that phone call came, I was ready. And I’ve been here for 20 years.
EH: Coming home was always the goal. I grew up watching KCCI; this was my home station. I remember my first day on the job; it was very exciting and kind of nerve-wracking. I put my microphone on, the lights turned on, and all I could think was, my mom and dad are watching, my pastor’s watching, my 4-H leader is watching…. And then Kevin Cooney said, “News Channel 8’s Eric Hanson joins us live from the newsroom,” and I was like, Kevin Cooney knows my name!
It was great to be back at home. Just knowing the history of six-on-six basketball, or what RAGBRAI is, or how to say Nevada and Madrid and Wapsipinicon — if you didn’t grow up here, you don’t really know. And now, after 25 years at the station, I still enjoy my work here.
How does your connection to the farm influence your journalism style?
SH: My dad still farms, and my grandma still lives on our farm. I love going back and just reconnecting. You get out of the city rush. You get to relax. And when you surround yourself with family, you realize what’s most important. You realize that the ethics instilled in you from such an early age are with you throughout your life. I am who I am because I grew up on the family farm. Bringing that understanding to the newsroom makes for a more well-rounded story and a more balanced news station.
EH: My son and I like to go up on fall weekends to run the grain cart or help out during different times of the year. I enjoy being on the farm, and I’m so grateful that the farming tradition continues in my family. Many of my coworkers didn’t grow up on a farm, so when we do a story on the ag economy or a drought, or somebody has questions about planting season or buffer strips, they come to me. That background knowledge is important because if we screw up an ag story, we lose credibility with our viewers.
Stacey, why is advocating for Central Iowans important to you?
SH: I have a unique perspective because I came from rural Iowa. I know what that world is like, what the folks there want and what they need to succeed. I’ve also lived in Des Moines for 20 years, so I know what the people here want and need. And a lot of the time, it’s the same thing.
The unknown is so frustrating. And feeling like you don’t have a voice is frustrating, too. So I try to listen and elevate Iowans’ voices, asking our state lawmakers, our governor, our Iowa congressional delegation, “What’s going on? How can we break this down? What do the folks at home need to know? How’s it going to impact their lives?” I think that’s incredibly important. When we better understand one another, we’re all a lot better off.
Eric, why are you drawn to telling stories about interesting Iowans?
EH: In our job, we are responsible for covering what’s in the news. Sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it isn’t good. It would be irresponsible if we didn’t warn people about a blizzard or crime spree. But it would also be irresponsible if we didn’t acknowledge the good things happening, too. It’s important to tell the whole story of our state, our people and the fabric of Iowa.
There’s a reason people enjoy living here. A lot of it comes down to our neighbors and the people we see at the grocery store, the kindness of small towns rallying around somebody going through a hard time or the silliness of some things that happen on the farm. There are all kinds of unusual things that are easy to write off as just part of life. But sometimes, when you shine a spotlight on those things, people get to pause and fully appreciate our state.
