AM Radio in Rural Wisconsin For Popular Mechanics
We spent a day in rural Wisconsin for Popular Mechanics, photographing WRDN 1430 AM in Durand—a one-person station that still keeps its farming community connected. Station owner Brian Winnekins had already been on air for hours when we arrived, his voice carrying across fields and milking parlors.
The studio was small, but that made it fun to photograph. We played with light against the muted walls to bring warmth and life to the space. One of our favorites to do is lighting mundane everyday spaces to make them pop a little more.
That afternoon we visited the Koller dairy farm, where every chore runs to the rhythm of Brian’s broadcasts. Spending time there—among cows, hay, and the hum of radio—was a reminder of how vital local voices still are in small towns.
It was a bit of a full-circle moment for Tim—one of his first photo assignments back in college was photographing an AM radio station. Thankfully, he’s grown a bit as a photographer since that first assignment.
And seeing this story run across eight full pages in Popular Mechanics was pretty special—a rare sight these days, and one we truly loved.
A simple, meaningful day doing what we love: chasing light and telling stories that connect people.
📖 Read the full story here: popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a65662276/am-radio-controversy/
Photographs by Jenn Ackerman + Tim Gruber for Popular Mechanics (Sept/Oct 2025)
