Celebrate 30 Years of Ozarks at Large with host Kyle Kellams

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Kat Wilson

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Thanks to so many of you, KUAF reached our fundraising goal of $35,000 for June and was able to 'unlock' an additional $19,000 in Challenge pledges. That's more than $54,000 raise for KUAF! Please watch the video below to see how your support makes our work possible. Thank you for supporting KUAF!

On March 10th, KUAF marked a significant milestone. On the same day, 30 years ago, KUAF News Director Kyle Kellams hosted the program Ozarks at Large for the very first time. The program had existed on KUAF previously, but when Kellams took over, he took it in a new direction. Pivoting from an interview show to a news magazine format - much like NPR's Weekend Edition with Scott Simon, although that program didn't exist yet - Kellams intergrated interviews with produced pieces, highlighting local news as well as features about the arts, music, and culture of the area.

Since taking over in 1990, Kellams has hosted more 9,000 programs. He has interviewed Nobel laureates, movie stars, world-famous musicians, authors, academics, journalists and countless others. With KUAF’s move into a new building in 2010, Kellams expanded the program into a daily show, airing twice every weekday at noon and 7 p.m., as well as Sunday at 9 a.m. As Kellams said in the May 10, 2020, Ozarks at Large episode marking the anniversary, “thirty years in, [I] still can’t really believe this is my job. It is, in fact, what I’ve always wanted to do.”

During the month of June, KUAF will air memories from former and current Ozarks at Large producers Jennifer Fulford, Chuck Carney, PJ Robowski, Bryan Rachal, Katherine Shurlds and more, and will highlight archived segments from the past 30 years of the program.

Below are just a few stories from the Ozarks at Large archives.

Mike Shirkey talks to Ramblin' Jack Elliott in 1994.

Jennifer Fulford talks with Robert Ginsburg and other local cavers in 1997 about a then-new PBS documentary about caves in the Ozarks.

Kyle Kellams visits Weidman's Old Fort Brewery in Fort Smith in 1994.

We also want to hear from YOU! Call the KUAF Connects line and tell us what you appreciate Ozarks at Large, maybe a fond memory or favorite episode. Just call 479-575-6577 and we'll play your message about the show on the air too!

Want to make a donation or challenge pledge in Kyle's honor? Simply go to supportkuaf.com.