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News & Media » Zeb Bell broadcasts his opinions from home
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By Renee Wells, South Idaho Press - Vol 97 No. 64 |
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Murtaugh - In a unique move, rodeo and radio commentator Zeb Bell has taken his
radio show to the ranch - literally.
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Bell, who has for years been a popular PRCA rodeo announcer throughout the U.S.,
also has a yen for environmental issues, or rather for anti-environmental
issues. |
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The Murtaugh resident is adamantly opposed to the environmentalist moment that
is currently underway, protecting plants and animals at the expense of humans. |
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And oft-times that philosophy is the background for his talk shows, which air
every Monday through Wednesday on K-BAR Radio, 1230 AM.
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"It was a real good move to bring the talk show to the ranch," said Bell, who
presents the one and a half hour long show out of an office at his ranch house
along Highway 30 near Murtaugh. "It has given a completely unique flair to the
show, and I think we are the only radio station in the state, at least to my
knowledge which does a show of this sort, from a private home." |
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Bell leased the airtime from the owners of Tri-Star Broadcasting, Al and Kim
Lee, and has "done his own thing," presenting just about every view on every
subject imaginable.
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The show airs at 8:30 a.m. on each of the three days, and is titled, "Zeb at the
Ranch." |
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Bell said he prepares for each show by spending at least two hours daily combing
through about 30 different magazines and newspapers.
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"I'm not trying to be a cutsie show," Bell said. "That's exactly what I don't
want. I'm a confirmed conservative and proud of it. My motto has long been 'the
way things were is the way things ought to be,' and I am all for seeing American
return to the grassroot values that made it a much stronger country 35 years ago
than it is today." |
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Bell said the purpose of his show is to make people think and sometimes get
their ire up enough to make them take action about some issue.
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"The liberals in this country are tearing apart the fabric of our society," Bell
said. "If you don't believe it, go to the library and get a 30 year old history
textbook and compare it to today's text that is being taught." |
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Bell said having his show on the air like it is has afforded an opportunity to
stimulate a readership from all over.
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"It's amazing who picks up the show while traveling along the freeway out here,"
Bell said. "I get cell phone calls from people traveling through from Salt Lake
City to Seattle, from Moscow to Miami."
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Bell said his hopes to one day have his show syndicated, something that is not
all that far away, because he can take the show anywhere at any given time.
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"This sow isn't one that is written down and read from cure cards," Bell
explained. "Everything I do comes directly from my head and my heard. Even my
advertisers get impromptu ads that come from the heart."
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He points out that his philosophy about his show is often to play the devil's
advocate, evoking reaction to various issues. |
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"Not everyone agrees on today's issues," Bell said. "I often do and say things
that will get people off dead center and do something." |
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Bell said his wife, Deanne, is his bookkeeper and organizer. he said the effort
she puts into his show is what keeps him all together. Bell travels a great
deal, often 20-25 days out of the month, especially during the rodeo season, and
at those times, Steve Mitton at KBAR radio, takes over and does a great deal to
help Bell. |
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"It's certainly a team effort, in some senses, because Steve and Jerry Thaxton
have been a great support to my show, and I appreciate their help." Bell said.
"I also appreciate the opportunity Kim Lee has given me to do this show my way." |
