“A year’s plan starts with spring.”
— Chinese proverb
Like farmers, the Chinese who quote this proverb recognize a good harvest depends on the spring sowing. After all, you reap what you sow.
But here at Farm and Dairy, the year starts in the fall. At this time every year, we turn another page and start a new volume.
Thus, with this issue, we start Volume No. 97 — the start of our 97th year.
Ninety-seven years of encouraging farmers and shining the light on how to improve agricultural practices.
Ninety-seven years of sharing news about your neighbors and friends — even those whose names you don’t know, but feel connected to because you share a kinship of the land.
Ninety-seven years of hardship, drought, wars and pain. And ninety-seven years of success, dreams, families and joy.
We didn’t get through 97 years alone. We got here only with your help — our readers, our advertisers and our friends. Thank you.
We got here one week at a time, the same way you accomplish your farm’s or life’s goals, taking one step and then another.
It’s humbling to pause and look back at how far we’ve come, but it’s more exciting to look ahead and see what lies ahead.
That’s because we agree with Ella Fitzgerald: “It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.”
We hope you’ll stay along for the ride.
* * *
Georgeanne Wolf (center) has been a rock for the rest of the Farm and Dairy advertising department, (L-R) Billie Sekely, Anne Benner, Faye Newcomb and Denise Rhodes, but she’s also kept Publisher Scot Darling on track as his executive assistant. Georgeanne is retiring after 26 years with the paper, and we’re not quite sure how we will manage without her. Our best wishes go with you, Geo.
As we say hello to a new year in our publishing life, we’re also saying goodbye to a dear friend.
Georgeanne Wolf has been a behind-the-scenes key to our success for more than 25 years, and she is bidding us adieu, to retire.
Editor Susan Crowell with Georgeanne Wolf, showing some of the freebies the staff scored at Farm Science Review as a going-away gift for Geo.
Some of you know Georgeanne’s voice. As an internal sales representative, she is the one you get on the phone when you call to talk to one of our other advertising reps and they’re not in.
Or she may have served as your account representative, gently making sure you met deadlines and looked good in print.
And some of you have met her at Power Show Ohio or Farm Science Review, for she’s been a constant at our booths.
What you don’t know is that she is our rock. Our anchor. Calm, hard-working, polite and a true believer in Farm and Dairy. A gem with a wry sense of humor and a heart of gold.
“She’s like my second mother,” says Publisher Scot Darling, “and I can’t fathom this place without her.” (On top of her advertising responsibilities, Georgeanne has also served as our publisher’s executive assistant.)
Even the newest employees feel drawn to her kindness, her willingness to help.
On Monday, we had a mini-retirement celebration with pizza at lunch. I grabbed a few slices and went to join the advertising department at the conference table.
Sitting down, I realized Georgeanne’s seat was empty, her pizza slice barely nibbled. Then, behind me, I heard her taking an ad from Greg Unkefer at Unkefer Equipment.
Yep, only Georgeanne would pause during her own tribute luncheon to answer the phone and take care of a customer. That’s dedication. That’s Geo.
Author Clarence B. Kelland once said, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”
That’s how I feel about working beside Georgeanne — she has taught us all so much, not by words, but by deeds. It’s been an honor to watch her.
What a lovely tribute to a lady who certainly seems to have made it easy to write one.
Congratulations to her and my condolences to Farm and Dairy as you try to fill her shoes! Good luck! :)