MIDDLEBORO - Cranberry bogs have joined the ranks of whale watchers and Duckboats in promoting Cellular One's regional network.

As part of its New England advertising campaign, the Texas-based cellular network provider's newest radio spot features local cranberry bog owner Betty Brown, who is the latest voice in a series of ads focusing on local experts in uniquely New England occupations.

"They were looking for what some would consider odd occupations," Betty said. "I don't think it's odd, but hey." Texas advertising agency GSD&M

runs the campaign and, after featuring a whale watch tour guide, ice sculptor, swordfish fisherwoman and a Boston Duckboat operator, decided to interview a worker from a cranberry bog, a typically New England site. The ad would run at harvest time.

The agency conducted an Internet search, which turned up the Web site of Betty and her husband, Hal Brown, and soon agency representatives were in the Browns' living room recording Hal, Betty and their bog foreman telling funny tales about working on the bog.

"We all did it, but we all knew Betty was best.," Hal said. "Plus, she's funny."

She is also experienced in broadcasting with a smooth voice for radio. She has recorded tapes for English language classes and did a movie review show on public radio in Michigan for several years.

"I sound like I'm ripped out of New York City," Hal said.

Sure enough, Betty was chosen bog representative for the ad.

She decided to use the opportunity for a promotion of her own, a chance to publicize the cranberry industry's troubles, which include years of surpluses and low prices.

"We really need to sell more cranberries. It's a great crop, and this was a great opportunity to talk a bout my crop," said Betty. "I wanted to promote cranberries any way I can."

While she concedes that "I have not singlehandedly saved the industry," she hopes her contribution helps.

To tape the advertisement, the ad agency brought Betty to Boston, where for two hours she sat on a stool

in a recording studio and chatted with the Cellular One spokesman, without a script.

"When you're asked questions, you can't think of anything, but then you get rolling," she said, adding that her Cellular One counterpart was very relaxed.

But in the studio, she shared many other stories that were not included in the ad, including when she threw a paddle at another worker and he fell into the bog.

"It's a very funny thing when someone falls in the water," she said. "It's like a rule. You're never a member of a wet harvest crew until you fall in."

The first time Betty and Hal heard the ad, they were in the car. Betty said she almost drove right off the road. Now, she says, she hardly'notices it.

But others do. Hal said a police officer just the other day gave him a funny look then said, "Is that your wife I heard on the radio?"

The ad will run through the end of this month in Boston, western Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

"My 15 minutes are now over," said Betty. "You'll never hear from me again. I'm going to drop off the edge of the earth."

Does she have any aspirations for full-time fame? "Nope," she said. "I'm done."