WRFD (AM)

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**WRFD**
Broadcast area	Columbus, Ohio
Branding	The Word 880 WRFD
First air date	1940s estimated
Frequency	880 (kHz)
Format	Christian talk radio Agribusiness
ERP	23,000 watts
Callsign meaning	W Rural Free Delivery
Owner	Salem Media of Ohio, Inc.
Website	www.wrfd.com

WRFD is an AM radio station in Columbus, Ohio, located at 880 kHz. Its official brand identifier is The Word 880 WRFD. WRFD is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as a daytime-only radio station, operating with a non-directional power of 23 kW. The current license holder is Salem Media of Ohio, Inc.

WRFD was originally aimed at the agricultural market (hence the use of RFD), and had its studios and transmitter located on East Powell Road in rural Delaware County, north of Columbus. For many years, WRFD was owned and operated by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

In 1961, WRFD opened a sibling FM station, WRFD-FM. By the 1970s, WRFD-FM had changed its call sign to WNCI and had been sold to the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.^[1]

In the 1980s, WRFD was sold and has since operated with a Christian talk radio format, it still regularly broadcast features of interest to farmers and agribusiness by Ohio Farm Radio. throughout the next two decades. Possibly the best known of all farm broadcasters for WRFD was Ed Johnson from 1967 until 1972. It was shortly after leaving WRFD when he ventured out on his own and founded The Agri Broadcasting Network (ABN) which he owned and operated until his death in February of 2001. The longest serving Farm Director at the station during the Salem Years was Joe Cornely, who broadcast daily farm news and information until 1998, when he joined the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation staff. He was followed by Darrin Johnston, who was replaced in 2002 by Andy Vance. In 2005, Salem executives decided to abandon WRFD's agricultural heritage by cancelling the farm radio programming on the station. In response, Vance, along with wife and fellow broadcaster Lindsay Hill, launched the Buckeye Ag Radio Network.

The studios of WRFD are currently located at 8101 North High Street.

[edit] Notes

↑ Nationwide Insurance and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation have had a long and close relationship; Nationwide having originally been created by the farm bureau to meet the insurance needs of farmers.