Best GMRS Radio for the Farm- Family Relies on Mobiles

When every minute counts, reliable communication can make all the difference on the farm. From coordinating harvest equipment to moving oversized machinery down rural roads, staying connected helps crews work more efficiently and safely. But not every communication solution is built for the demands of agriculture. If you're searching for the best GMRS radio for your operation, hearing directly from the farmers who rely on them every day is one of the best places to start. 

Meet Blake Handlos, a third-generation farmer who shares why dependable, long-range communication has become an essential part of his family's operation. 

About Handlos

Blake Handlos is a third-generation farmer in west-central Iowa. His family's farm grows corn, soybeans, and pigs. 

Farming is in his blood and what he was destined to do. 

"I was the oldest so I was always teh first one to start helping dad. It just gets in your blood. It's a family tradition."

However, that wasn't always the plan. He initially went to college to study something else. As a result, he has a "day job" outside the farm working as an engineer in town, but when the clock hits 2:30 p.m., he's headed home to work in the field. 

"You almost see putting your time in during the day as something that gives you some money to throw around at the farming operation and pay for your inputs."

Handlos' wife also has farming in her blood. She's a fifth-generation farmer in the same area so they're often farming with both his family and hers.

His career as engineer gives him an added layer of appreciation for farm life and the work he puts into the family business.

“It’s the farming side where you have your own schedule. Every day is different.”

It's All in the Family

Beyond the flexibility, farming offers him the ability to work alongside his family, something he's aware not everyone has the opportunity to experience. 

“You're working with family, good or bad—most of the time it's good. You're still carrying on the family tradition. That's what it's all about: keeping that legacy going.”

Part of that means celebrating together and seeing the accomplishments that come from long days and nights in the field.

“At the end of the day, it’s so nice to see everyone working together.”

Taking to Social Media

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Handlos bought a drone and with that came his social media following.

“I had no skills in editing, recording, or taking pictures. I just started doing my own thing, kind of picked up some traction, met a lot of cool people, learned different techniques for capturing things out in the field, and it just grew from there.”

Six years later and he’s still sharing his experience. He’s excited that one day, the photos and videos he takes will give the future generations something to look to, to learn from.

“I look back at my grandpa—or even the generation before—and I maybe have one or two pictures of how they did things, what they were doing, or what the farm looked like. I think it’s going to be so cool to see, 150 years from now, all of this that I captured. I wished something like that from my grandpa and great-grandpa.”

From CB Radios to GMRS Radios

His family’s operation never used two-way radios on the farm, relying on cell phones to communicate. Once he married his wife, he was introduced to radios.

“They had these two-way radios and CBs in their semis, grain cart, and combine. I'm like, ‘Whoa, this is a game changer. Everybody can communicate at the same time.’"

The cell service has recently changed in his area. His family began experiencing dropped calls and difficulty getting texts out. That’s why he began working with Midland, to find the best GMRS radio for the farm.

“This harvest is going to be so different with these two-way radios. They’re going to make a huge difference.”

The Best GMRS Radio for the Farm

The Handlos family has installed MicroMobile GMRS two-way radios in the combine, grain cart tractor, side-by-sides, work trucks, and semis.

They’re using Midland’s MXT500AGVP3 50-Watt MicroMobile GMRS Two-Way Radio AG Bundle, MXT115AGVP3 15-Watt MicroMobile GMRS Two-Way Radio Farm Tractor Bundle, SPK200 Amplified GMRS External Speaker, and GXT3000 GMRS Walkie Talkie 2-Pack – GXT3000VP4.

“We have a 50-Watt in both the combine and grain cart tractor because those two are always talking constantly.”

For them, long-range communication is essential to getting the job done.

“The range is really cool on these. I couldn’t believe the Midland range because other brands we’ve used doesn’t even come close to comparing. We can have trucks lined up at the co-op dumping grain and they can still hear the conversations we're having out in the field, which is crazy. We've never been able to do that before.”

They’ve seen a direct improvement in efficiency and safety, noting everyone is always on the same page and there’s fewer mistakes, making the MXT500 the best GMRS radio for the farm.

“Especially when you're dumping on the run between the combine and grain cart operator- you're either going too fast or too slow, or you need to move left or right. It's critical to have that communication.”

August on the Farm

August means a deep dive into equipment maintenance before the busy push of harvest.

“Everything’s getting an oil change and greased up. I’ve got one more radio to install in one of the new semis. We’re ready to roll.”

As another harvest season begins, Handlos is confident his family's operation is ready. With equipment serviced, radios installed, and crews connected, he's looking forward to a smoother, safer harvest—and continuing the family tradition.