FORT WORTH — The folks at Taylor’s very own KRXT 98.5 FM are singing anything but the blues after walking away from a state radio convention with a top industry award.
The station, located in the McCrory Timmerman Building at Second and Main streets in Taylor, was named “Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year” by the Texas Country Music Association Nov. 9.
“The moment when they announced our category, we’re all quiet, quiet, quiet at the table, but when they said ‘98,’ we exploded. We knew it was us, no one else had a 98 call sign,” said Lexi Vee, also known as KRXT’s “Polka Princess.”
Vee attended the Nov. 9 ceremony with other KRXT on-air personalities Roney Castor and Kenny Schneebeli and the station’s co-owner and morning host Steve Laukhuf. Laukhuf added some people might have even gotten teary-eyed at the award announcement.
“It was Steve,” Vee said. “He teared up.” Other stations competing for the award at the ninth annual Texas Country Music Awards ceremony included KMRX 104.9 Waco, KXOX 96.7 Sweetwater, KVMK 100.9 College Station and KNES 99.1 Fairfield.
Steve Laukhuf, co-owner of KRXT 98.5 FM radio and a morning host, shows off the Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year award won Nov. 9 at the Texas Country Music Award ceremony in Fort Worth. Photo by Emily Treadway
The award is for traditional, overthe- air radio stations broadcasting from a tower using AM or FM frequencies instead of the internet or satellite radio.
The TCMA also defined the category as one “that serves its market with excellence through its country and Texas country music programming as well as (its) community involvement.”
A resounding endorsement from its audience netted KRXT 98.5 the honor, station staffers said.
“We asked people to go vote for us if you liked what we were doing and that vote put us in the top five in the state,” Laukhuf said. “I don’t say Taylor’s radio station won an award; the people that listen to Taylor’s radio station won an award.”
In his acceptance speech, Laukhuf said small-town radio was alive and well, adding the Terrestrial Radio Station Award recognizes KRXT for its dedication to local radio programming, local content and local listeners.
“We have 45 different, unique voices on this radio station in a twohour slot every week. That’s what makes this local radio. And I think that’s what we were rewarded for, the fact that we’re community-minded and not a jukebox,” Laukhuf said.
In the days ahead, Laukhuf said he wants to make the station better. Though he’s considering throwing the station’s name in the hat for the Texas Regional Radio Award, he noted KRXT’s mission is not about accolades but catering to its audience.
“I just want to do the best job that we can do to serve our local community,” he said.
In addition to other local programming, the Taylor Press is featured on KRXT at 9 a.m. Wednesdays.
KRXT is part of the Cowboy Broadcasting Network LLC.
For more, tune in or visit cbntexas. com.
