FARLEY Discover the stories shaping our region: A salute to veterans and outstanding farmers

We shared two special projects this week, Salute to Veterans and Outstanding Farmers.

These are annual projects for us and kick off 2025, which will include about two dozen special and magazine projects. These feature stories highlight our region, from its service and hard work to its history and natural attractions.

We look forward to sharing these with our readers, each one offering a chance to take a closer look at a unique slice of our region and the people who call it home.

Salute to Veterans this year features those who served during Vietnam. Previous projects have looked at World War I, World War II and Korea.

It’s not only a look back and a way to remember the impact this war had on our region, but a chance to talk to veterans and their families today about the lasting realities of these conflicts.

Spc. Dale Hudson was the first Butler County casualty in Vietnam. The 27-year-old who had worked for the Daily American Republic in his youth as a newsboy is one of many members of the service whose story is told in this project. It can be found in our Thursday, Jan. 30, print edition and on our website, www.darnews.com.

In Outstanding Farmers, we feature individuals who will be recognized Feb. 7 at Three Rivers College’s Salute to Ag dinner. It includes stories like that of Bloomfield senior Logan Williamson, who has already built his own farming operation through hard work and ingenuity. He operates his own custom harvesting business to help pay for his equipment and grew 300 acres of corn, beans and wheat this past year.

The Salute to Ag dinner hosted by TRC will help support its agriculture clubs and programs.

This section is in today’s print edition and on our website.

Our next project is our annual medical guide, which will be renamed this year as “THRIVE, Your Health Journey.” We’ll bring you a variety of stories on everyday health concerns, such as what annual doctor’s visits are important and why, and debunking myths surrounding women’s health. The health care providers we’ve talked to for these stories are from our region and spend their days improving the lives of those who live here.

We have more planned for 2025 and look forward to sharing these stories with you.

Thank you for supporting community journalism.

Donna Farley is editor of the Daily American Republic and Dexter Statesman. She can be reached at dfarley@darnews.com.