When asked how he ‘came to fame’ as a farm broadcaster, Cody Martin (Martin Ag Radio Network, Deer Trail, CO) said, “The answer is quite simple, I was born into it.” His parents, who both grew up on a farm, started into radio in the late ‘60s when 45 rpm records and reel- to-reel tape were state-of-the-art. About his parents, he said, “In 1980, they built a radio station in Deer Trail, CO, with a passion to report on agriculture and an appetite to serve an audience that feeds the world.” When Cody came along his parents had a combined 35 years’ experience in radio and a lifetime in agriculture. Cody learned from around age three the daily workings of a farm-based radio station while he often sat on his mom or dad’s lap while they read the news on the air. Cody started putting his voice on the air at about the same time as the farm crisis of the ‘80s was in full swing. He still remembers cutting a promo with his cousins— “save the family farm for us little kids.” Cody said, “Radio broadcasting, farming and ranching have always been something I’ve been passionate about. It’s been a real privilege to report to the hard-working farmers and ranchers, husbands and wives and all that have a hand in making agriculture the most important industry in America. Bringing farmers daily news that helps their operation is something I don’t take lightly, and I feel blessed to have this opportunity.” When he wasn’t in the radio station with his parents, you could find him doing what he loved the most, riding on his grandpa’s lap on the tractor or combine.
In 1990, The Martin Agri-Country Radio Network was founded by Colleen Turecek-Martin. “When Colleen built the radio network, she based her network on one theory -- provide farmers and ranchers with up-to-the-minute ag news and markets that would be critical to their operation. That kind of programming has served as a platform for the network for nearly 30 years and has attracted listeners to tune into the report on a day-to-day basis,” Cody said. “With nearly 30 years’ broadcasting experience, Colleen became a well-known name that the agriculture industry could trust.” Cody credits his mom for showing him the ropes in broadcasting and business ownership. Upon Cody’s mother’s passing in 2011, Cody took over the network as owner/broadcaster. He became a member of NAFB in 2013. He has modernized, standardized and expanded the network into the authoritative farm and ranch broadcast you hear on the air today. With a lifetime of agriculture and broadcast experience, listeners have come to trust his broadcasts. Also, Cody has owned a successful construction company for the past 18 years specializing in all facets of construction. He said, “Being a full time single dad, farm broadcaster and general contractor is definitely something that is hard to juggle at times. It takes a lot of planning and learning that your arms really can stretch when getting pulled three different directions.” In Cody’s free time, he enjoys farming, hunting and raising his two boys, Coehn who is 8 and Logan who is 6 years old.
