HPJ to celebrate 75 years of serving agriculture
High Plains Journal is marking 75 years as a valuable partner with farmers and ranchers.
As you read through Lacey Vilhauer’s excellent cover story the connection to readers is well told through the perspective of past publishers Duane Ross, Tom Taylor, and Holly Martin, and current publisher Zac Stuckey. They all share in the legacy of the late Joe Berkely, the founder of HPJ in 1949 who saw a void in news for farmers and ranchers in the Dodge City, Kansas, area. That vision was so successful that it led to more regions and more states.
Today’s HPJ publication focus is on 12 states but goes beyond those boundaries. HPJ has subscribers in nearly every state and around the world. Also, HPJ has many followers on hpj.com who can access additional content.
An example of HPJ’s print and digital reach is with its All Aboard Wheat Harvest and All Aboard Fall Harvest campaigns in the summer and fall, respectively. Correspondent reports are read faithfully by readers in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and many other countries.
Some read to reminisce about past harvests and others are fascinated by the large machines and the people who run them. All of them share a common theme that High Plains farmers and ranchers are on the front row of feeding, fueling and clothing the world.
We know our roots are intertwined with yours. Success occurred because of many partners. Some of those include seed dealers, bankers, equipment companies or livestock organizations. The list of support partners is endless, and we will tip our cap to them throughout the celebration. In 2024, in the print publication and at hpj.com, we are going to commemorate connections that have made a difference in what farmers and ranchers and the industry did then and does today.
One of those features will be a “Looking Back, Moving Forward” page that looks at how far the industry has evolved over the past 75 years in our core grain and livestock sectors. The specially designed pages will reflect a vintage view our heritage and will appear at least once a month.
On hpj.com visitors will be able to access signature and memorable stories that helped define who we are and who we serve. Throughout 2024 we will also have dedicated space to help guide readers where to find those memorable pieces to a 75th anniversary page at hpj.com.
The anniversary project is summed up well by Stuckey in Vilhauer’s cover story. “Each month we will dig in the archives to find and commemorate photos, stories, quotes and more. Our hope is to republish these editorial assets and share them on varied media to relish the past and what it has meant to all of us. It should be fun to remember our past and how HPJ has been a part of your heritage along with how we will tackle the future together.”
A special subscription rate will also be introduced for 2024. For $75, subscribers will be able to start or renew a subscription and lock in a rate that guarantees two years of HPJ delivery.
The diamond anniversary has been in the planning for a year and our HPJ team provided great perspective and direction. A celebration over the entire year appropriately commemorates the partnership we have with farmers, ranchers and industry partners. We hope you enjoy the fun because it belongs to all of us.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
