WOYM - The Voice of The Plains
What does it take to keep farm radio alive and thriving in the heartland?
Kyle Bauer, a Kansas radio legend and Hall of Fame broadcaster, joins the Wheat’s On Your Mind podcast to share a front-row account of how he built a rural broadcast empire from scratch, starting with a failing FM station and growing it into a multi-station powerhouse serving over 149 counties.
In this candid conversation, Kyle lays bare the trials and triumphs of keeping radio relevant, local, and valuable to farmers and rural listeners alike.
From harvest reports to handmade programming schedules, Kyle opens up about his passion for serving the agricultural community, hiring true radio personalities, and training the next generation, sometimes beginning at age 14!
Whether you're tuning in from the cab of a combine or driving down a dusty Kansas road, this episode is a masterclass in grit, growth, and grassroots media done right.
Timestamps
00:01 – Intro and Kyle Bauer’s unexpected path into radio
02:00 – Saving a dying FM station and evolving it into KCYL
03:50 – Acquiring KFRM and building a multi-state farm network
06:40 – Automation, equipment upgrades, and audience expansion
10:00 – The challenge of filling commercial slots with engaging ag content
14:00 – Hiring and training iconic farm broadcasters
17:00 – Keeping farm radio unique, entertaining, and hyper-local
20:00 – Serving advertisers through relevant, trusted content
22:30 – Shifts in listener demographics and podcasting’s role in audio revival
28:00 – Leveraging K-State Extension and growing ag listenership
30:30 – State of farm broadcasting in Kansas vs. the nation
35:00 – The fight to keep AM radio alive in new vehicles
39:50 – Closing reflections and the future of rural radio
Kansas Wheat
WheatsOnYorMind.com
