Four Lakes Amateur Radio Club 2026 Field Day

The Four Lakes Amateur Radio Club (FLARC – W9JZ) will host ARRL Field Day 2026 here at Schumacher Farm County Park, transforming the park into a live emergency communications center for the weekend! Field Day is Amateur Radio’s largest annual emergency preparedness exercise. Since 1933, amateur radio operators across North America have set aside a weekend each June to practice operating under emergency conditions and to demonstrate how independent communication can be maintained during disasters and severe weather events.

Beginning Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, club members will set up a fully self-contained communications center using only emergency power. Operations officially run from 1:00 PM Saturday until 1:00 PM Sunday, during which stations will be on the air continuously for 24 hours. Teardown will take place Sunday from approximately 1:00–3:00 PM. Club members will be on site from setup Saturday morning through sunset Sunday.

For this 24-hour period, the park will become a communications hub, connecting with amateur radio operators across North America and around the world. Field Day is often called "ham radio’s open house,” and the public is invited to stop by at any time to observe, ask questions, and participate. Visitors are encouraged to try operating amateur radio at the Get On The Air (GOTA) station. With the assistance of a licensed club member, anyone can experience making a real radio contact - no license required.

Planned activities include:

• Four HF stations operating on 10–80 meters using Voice, Morse Code and Digital Modes

• VHF/UHF and stations using digital and voice modes

• Get On The Air station for visitors

• Parks on the Air setup by Jeff, KE9CQP

• Information tent and demonstrations

• Skywarn information tent

• Meshcore information and demonstration

In 2025, more than 50 community members stopped by to observe, ask questions, and operate radios during Field Day. Community members of all ages are welcome to attend, whether curious about emergency preparedness, electronics, or simply interested in seeing amateur radio in action.