For Rural Radio Network Multimedia Producer Alex Makovicka, a career in farm broadcasting wasn’t the result of a single defining moment. It was the natural extension of a life rooted in agriculture, curiosity, and community.
Makovicka grew up on a cow–calf operation in central Nebraska, where agriculture was woven into daily life.
“My dad worked for a farmer, so we were always involved. I was in FFA and helped on the operation. Ag has always been part of who I am,” she says.
Her path to the Rural Radio Network began at a community college, where she studied general agriculture and discovered an internship opening at KRVN. That internship, she said, “was where everything really started.”
After finishing her two-year program, she joined the team as a part-time employee while studying agricultural communications at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. By 2020, she stepped into a full-time multimedia role and has been there ever since.
What inspires Makovicka most isn’t the technology, the creativity, or even the awards, which she recently earned four of. It’s the people.
“Our association is so unique,” she said. “We’re owned by 4,000 farmers and ranchers across Nebraska. There is no other radio association in the country owned by the people we serve. Every day, the work we do goes back to them.”
Her role allows her to think about how audiences are consuming information, how quickly media evolves, and how to meet listeners and viewers where they are.
“By nature, I’m a learner. In media, everything is constantly changing. You have to adapt. I love that challenge,” she says.
In August 2025, Makovicka was honored at the Nebraska Broadcasters Association awards ceremony with two gold and two silver medals—an achievement her colleague, Bryce Doeschot, noted is rare for any broadcast group, let alone a single broadcaster.
She accepts the recognition humbly and firmly asserts that it was a team effort.
“While my name is on the plaque, these are not my awards,” she emphasizes. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without our team. These awards are the way we serve farmers and ranchers—people like my dad and so many across the state who produce our feed, fuel, and fiber.”
The honors came just weeks after Makovicka and her husband welcomed their second son. Their two children, Ethan, age two, and infant James, are at the heart of her motivation.
“My children and my husband are my why,” she says. “Because I’m part of this association, I get to go home every day and be a mom. That’s the most incredible blessing.”
Whether she is producing video content, supporting colleagues, or traveling the state to capture stories from Nebraska’s ag community, Makovicka brings a deep sense of purpose to her work.
“There is no greater mission than serving the people who own our network,” she says. “Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of Nebraska, and it’s an honor to share their stories.”
