‘Circuit Rider Roundup’ wins Radio Show of the Year

“Circuit Rider Roundup,” an inspirational and gospel Western radio show, which is recorded out of Custer by Allen and Jill Kirkham, has been named the International Western Music Association’s Radio Program of the year, also making Allen and Jill the deejays of the year with the same award.
The radio show began in 2020, as COVID-19 had put a halt to many of the live performances, from which the Kirkhams have made a name for themselves in the world of Country Western music. The two-hour program music beginning at 9 a.m. is broadcast on KJAG FM of Guthrie, Texas, the flagship station for American Cowboy Radio (ACR), and is also broadcast from stations across the country.
The Kirkhams are former worship leaders at Crossroads Church in Custer, and this program is also an opportunity for them to continue their ministry in a different medium and to reach so many more people each week.
They now even have listeners from around the world, and the Kirkhams are especially fascinated by their Japanese fan base. They say their appeal and success of the program simply comes from the inspirational message they share with each show.
“It’s a Christian show, and we don’t make any apologies about that,” said Jill, but they also don’t get too “preachy” with it, simply aiming to uplift and inspire with country and Western music that honors God in some way. They don’t deliver a sermon, but instead offer their selection of music with some brief commentary, cowboy poetry, and some husband-wife banter that many find amusing.
Allen and Jill add many personal touches to the program. They include intros and outros for the music they play so that listeners know what they’re listening to and can more easily find the music again after the broadcast. They also play the music of many of the friends they’ve made in their careers, and may share updates about those artists in the program too. They’ll even play some of their own God-honoring music in each show.
The level of success and recognition that the show has received has been rather unexpected.
“They said a Western gospel show couldn’t be done,” said Allen, who explained how in the past, friends have told them this, but with “Circuit Rider Roundup” becoming the first western gospel show to win Radio Program of the Year from the IWMA, the Kirkhams are proving that isn’t necessarily true.
Still, the Kirkhams weren’t expecting to win. They didn’t end up attending the award ceremony, and left a friend with remarks to accept the award on their behalf. They said that, if anything, they were expecting to possibly win for best duo or group, which they’ve been nominated for several times.
Each say that the show, and the recognition received for it has been “a blessing” and they thank their many listeners—all 800,000 (probably more) of them.
In the Black Hills, their show airs on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.  on BIG81 KBHB Ranch Radio  810 AM and 105.5 FM out of Sturgis.  
It can also be found at kbhbradio.com and AmericanCowboyRadio.com
You can learn more about Allen and Jill at allenandjill.com