A New Chapter for the McKenzie County Farmer: A Note from the Publisher
Steve Hallstrom
Four years ago, Scott Hennen and I took the helm of the McKenzie County Farmer with a specific vision: to honor the storied history of this publication while dragging it, with all our might, into the modern era.
And although I am very proud of the work we’ve done toward that mission, today, I am writing to share that we have reached an agreement in principle to sell the Farmer to Forum Communications.
As we prepare for this transition, I find myself reflecting on the journey with many emotions. When we arrived, the Farmer was a traditional weekly. Today, it is a 24/7 news operation. We are immensely proud of the “new level” we have reached together. I recall clearly the many times we updated you on the celebrations, milestones, tragedies, and breaking stories within minutes of their happenings. If you regularly checked our updates, I hope you always got a return on that investment. With the launch of a live, breaking-news website, a robust social media presence, and a dedicated mobile Bakken Buzz app, we successfully retired the old “wait until Wednesday” mentality. We proved that Watford City deserves - and can sustain - real-time reporting on the issues that matter most.
In choosing a successor, it was vital to find an organization that lives and breathes North Dakota news. We have known the Marcil family for a long time. Their passion for the newspaper business is undeniable, and their commitment to regional journalism is unmatched. By bringing the Farmer into the Forum family, Watford City will benefit from powerful synergies with their existing operations in Williston and Dickinson. This move strengthens the “news net” across Western North Dakota at a time when local reporting is more critical than ever. And on a personal note, I would say that we have done multiple deals with the Marcil/Forum Family, and they are good people and good operators who care very much about their employees and the communities they serve. The future of the Farmer is in very good hands.
For the full story, visit www.watfordcitynd.com and subscribe to the McKenzie County Farmer today!