Two High Plains Journal field editors—Lacey Vilhauer and Kylene Scott—have earned national recognition for their work from the Livestock Publications Council.
The LPC awards were presented during the Agricultural Media Summit, held July 19 to 21 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Agricultural Media Summit is the largest gathering of agricultural media professionals in the United States.
“Lacey and Kylene are true pros in the industry,” said HPJ Publisher Zac Stuckey. “Their recognition is a reflection of their talent along with how closely they are connected to High Plains Journal’s readers and viewers. They elevate our publication with content that engages, inspires and makes a lasting impact. I’m so proud of them. Congratulations on a remarkable achievement.”
Vilhauer received first place in the Miscellaneous Writing category for “Barbed wire—holding up since the 1800s.”
The article explores how the invention of barbed wire in 1874 transformed agriculture and the American West, making it possible for settlers to protect crops, define property lines and fence livestock across the open prairie. The story also explains barbed wire’s impact on patent law and cattle drives, and why its original design remains largely unchanged and widely used today.
The story is available at https://hpj.com/2025/07/04/barbed-wire-holding-up-since-the-1800s/
Scott’s blog placed second in the Best Overall Blog category.
This category can include humor, personal anecdotes, fictional or non-fictional stories, or unique accounts of life, events, or issues relevant to the livestock industry.
The category recognizes “excellence in both editorial content and website design within a blog dedicated to the livestock industry. This award celebrates blogs that provide insightful, relevant, and engaging content, while maintaining a user-friendly and visually appealing design that enhances the reader’s experience.”
Scott submitted the following posts as entries for the category: Are Cowboys Cool Again?; Fall a Time to Reflect; Graduated Show Heifers Continue to Teach Life Lessons; March Means Wildfires; Old Dogs, Old Horses and Old Buildings; Rain and Old Wives’ Tales; and Spreading the Love During FFA Week.
Her blog is available at https://hpj.com/category/blogs/kylene/.
PHOTO: High Plains Journal’s Lacey Vilhauer and Kylene Scott
