Two-Way Radios for Farming: Idaho Family's Generational Story

For five generations, the Wheatley family has worked the land at Broken Bar Ranch in Idaho, balancing time-honored agricultural traditions with new technology to keep their operation moving forward. 

From managing livestock and raising performance horses to growing their own feed crops, reliable communication is essential to their daily operations. That's why the Wheatleys have turned to Midland's two-way radios for farming solutions to stay connected across their ranch, improve efficiency, and simplifying communication between family members. 

As part of Midland's Farmer Spotlight series, we're taking a closer look at how the Wheatleys are preserving their family's agricultural legacy while embracing modern communication technology to support the next generation. 

About Broken Bar Ranch

Randy Wheatley is a fourth-generation farmer, taking over the operation of the family farm five years ago. His children, including daughter Jax, make up the fifth generation. 

"We are primarily a livestock operation. It's historically been a cow/calf operation, but we've transitioned it to a yearling growing, breeding heifer program a couple of years ago," Randy said.

They grow all of their own feed for livestock and also raise performance horses. 

Working As a Family

Being part of the larger family operation is something that Jax finds fulfilling. 

"There's something really special about growing up watching the same land that has been cared for by generation after generation. We had traditions and a work ethic that's been passed down, but there's the memories that are built along the way that are second to none. I will cherish them forever." 

She appreciates advice her dad gave to her when she was finishing up high school, the same advice he had gotten from his dad. 

"He told me the farm will always be here, but he encouraged us to go pursue other dreams and aspirations in terms of education. Home will always be there and he of course hopes we'd want to return to that," she said. 

She's been pursuing her nursing degree, but the farm is calling her home and she plans to return once she graduates. 

"At the end of the day, I just have such a passion for the western lifestyle. I'm really excited to get back to Idaho to continue to be involved in the family operation." 

Sharing on Social Media

The family began sharing their farm experience on social media several years ago with a goal of educating people and showing others what a generational operation can look like. They believe in the future of agriculture because they are the future of agriculture. 

"We've found a lot of drive being able to share that with our audience and grow over time. Although my dad might have been a little skeptical of the idea of sharing or being willing to make a silly video, it's given us some cool opportunities to share what day-to-day life can look like living on a ranch," Jax said. 

According to the US Department of Agriculture, 97% of US farms are family owned. 

"I think the agriculture industry is a great example of how you can honor tradition, but still embrace innovation and opportunity," she said. 

Randy added that there's an extremely important message to share to those less familiar with the agriculture world. 

"For a long time, I think there's been a little bit of a lack of real understanding of what agriculture does for this nation. Most families are at least three generations removed from being actively engaged in anything agriculture related."

He hopes their platform brings both insight and appreciation. 

"Hopefully it helps others understand that there's people out here that literally sacrifice everyday in order for us to be a secure food nation." 

Not to mention, he said it's been something that the entire family has enjoyed getting in on. 

Two-Way Radios for Farming

When Randy was younger, the farm used CB radios to communicate, but they ran into issues with range and scope. Cell phones work decently well in their area, but have become difficult to use for communication when they're on horseback and are looking to reach multiple people at once. 

So when looking for new two-way radios for farming, they found Midland's GMRS radios in early 2026. 

"The biggest thing for us is how simple they are to use. They're super user friendly. My grandpa knows how to use the radios and so do my little brothers," Jax added. 

Not only are Midland's GMRS two-way radios easy to use, Jax said they've become essential items on the farm, improving efficiency immensely. 

"We're constantly on the move and not always in the same place at the same time so having that reliable way of communication is huge. GMRS two-way radios just make sense for the way we work." 

Broken Bar Ranch uses Midland's MXT115AGVP3 15W MicroMobile GMRS Two-Way Radio|Farm Tractor Bundle, MXT500AGVP3 50W MicroMobile GMRS Two-Way Radio|AG Bundle, GXT3000 GMRS Walkie Talkie 2-Pack - GXT3000VP4, and the SPK200 Amplified GMRS External Speaker. 

October On the Ranch

During the month of October, the family is usually winding down irrigation. They'll also start shipping bred heifers and receiving cattle near the end of the month. 

"We're on the horse a lot working cattle through chutes and in corrals."

As the Wheatley's look toward the future, they remain committed to preserving their family's agricultural legacy while embracing new opportunities and technology to keep Broken Bar Ranch thriving for generations to come.