The Bronc turns the tables on winter

By Tom Regan

Escaping the blustery winter wind, students from 107.7 The Bronc found themselves immersed in a vibrant indoor sea of exotic flowers for the second consecutive year. The Bronc was the only radio station to broadcast live from the Philadelphia Flower Show.

The show, which opened on March 1 and will continue through March 9, features acres of flowers and landscapes from the winter-proof confines of the Philadelphia Convention Center.
The Bronc was able to broadcast live thanks to Jake Tuff, junior radio/TV major and producer and co-host of Turf’s Up, who was responsible for contacting the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society last year.
“We’re a bunch of college students broadcasting on live radio at the largest indoor flower show in the entire world,” Tuff said. “This gives us the experience of actually being able to go out into the real world.”
Tuff stressed the event wasn’t just a flower show, but a wonderful opportunity that would give members of the station priceless experience and memories.

The broadcast, which began March 2 at 9 a.m. and concluded at 3 p.m., consisted of four alternating segments: Turf’s Up with broadcasters Tuff and Darren Gruner of kentuckyblue.com; Your Pet Matters, co-hosted by junior radio/TV major and producer Fatima Heyward and Dr. Michael Tokiwa of The Animal Hospital at Kingston and Blawenburg; Sustainable You, co-hosted by sophomore radio/TV major Katie Lassiter and freshman public relations major Meghan Korb; and Inside Your Mind, with alumni Margarita Leahy, ’09 and Ian Smith, ’11, as well as junior radio/TV major Brian Kelley.

Senior public relations major Matt Hillman, social media director of 107.7 The Bronc, felt this opportunity was highly beneficial for the station.
“For us to be here and just have our name out there, it’s just unbelievable what it does,” Hillman said. “People are tuning in; they’re listening to us. It is increasing our listenership exponentially.”

Leahy and Smith talked about the fun they had broadcasting at the event. Leahy said this event “brings everyone together,” while Smith was impressed with the growth of the station.
“It’s great because it shows how much our radio station has grown over the years,” Smith said.

Broadcasting students who arrived before the gates opened to the public were able to take a tour of the flower show before going on air.
The exhibits ranged from scenes inspired by foreign landscapes to scenes that employed the work of famous artists, as well as original creations, all of which displayed the beauty of nature in their own way.

Tuff said the best exhibit was the Delaware Valley Fern and Wildflower Society as, he said, “the whole theme was ‘be at peace.’”
John Mozes, general manager of 107.7 The Bronc, was pleased with the flower show and happy to have been asked back for a second year.

“As long as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Philadelphia Flower Show continue to invite us back, we will be there to support them,” he said.