Winter Field Day

Winter Field Day is Coming to Rowan County(January 24, 2026)

If you’ve ever wondered what amateur radio (ham radio) is all about, Winter Field Day is one of the best days of the year to find out.

On Saturday, January 24, 2026, local ham radio operators will be setting up a working radio station at Farmers Fire Station #2 and spending the day making contacts with other stations across North America. It’s part emergency-preparedness exercise, part outdoor technical challenge, and part community hangout (with a lot more antennas than a normal social event).

What is Winter Field Day?

Winter Field Day (WFD) is an annual amateur radio event designed to encourage radio operators to practice operating in real-world winter conditions. Unlike casual radio use at home, Winter Field Day focuses on:

• Emergency readiness (powering stations off generators, batteries, or other off-grid power)

• Portable station setup (antennas, radios, and logging systems built and tested on site)

• Communication skills under pressure (making fast, clear contacts even when conditions are not ideal)

It’s a practical reminder that when phones and internet are down, radio can still connect people.

What you’ll see (and what you can do)

You don’t need a license, and you don’t need experience. If you’re curious, just show up.

At the station, you’ll be able to:

• See portable radios in action and learn what each piece does

• Watch operators make contacts (“QSOs”) and log them in real time

• Learn how antennas get built and tuned

• Ask questions about getting licensed (it’s easier than most people assume)

• If a licensed operator is available to supervise, you may even get a chance to talk on the air

This is a hands-on event, and spectators are welcome.

You’re invited

Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Location: Farmers Fire Station #2
Who should come: Anyone, including families, students, and anyone interested in communications, emergency preparedness, STEM, or just cool tech.

Whether you’re a longtime ham, someone who used to be licensed years ago, or someone who’s never touched a radio in your life, you’re welcome to come out, learn, and hang around.

Why it matters

Winter Field Day is more than a contest. It’s training with a purpose. Rural communities especially benefit from people who know how to communicate when infrastructure is limited or disrupted. Ham radio operators routinely support public events, severe weather response, and emergency communication, and Winter Field Day is one of the ways those skills stay sharp.

Come see what it’s about, meet local operators, and check out a radio station built to work when nothing else does.

We’ll see you at Farmers Fire Station #2 on January 24, 2026.