It turns out that one rumor circulating in the country isn’t a rumor after all—as of October 1, 2008, all of our staff’s energy and enthusiasm was utilized in the publication of just ONE paper. Although we contemplated combining our two papers—Western Livestock Reporter and Agri-News—several times in years past, it was always decided that the time was not right. However, both our editors decided to move on, which presented the opportunity to again explore combining them. Lengthy deliberations and painstaking research have assured us that, indeed, NOW is the time to become Western Ag Reporter, the best of Western Livestock Reporter and Agri-News combined to serve our readers better.
Let’s take a minute to look back. Western Livestock Reporter just recently celebrated its 68th birthday, having been started in August 1940 by Norm Warsinske. His was a well-recognized name in the industry in those days, and his new paper quickly took hold in the livestock world in which it was circulated. By 1961, WLR was long in its stride as the paper for purebred cattle breeders.
Enter Pat Goggins, a young man from Billings who worked for Warsinske for a number of years as a field rep. When the opportunity presented itself for Goggins to purchase the paper, he had the vision and the work ethic to do so. Seven years later, in August 1968, responding to a need for news of a more general agricultural nature as well as for a venue for local advertisers, Goggins started a second paper. Initially called The Farm Livestock Weekly, this new publication catered more to the general ag operation-those raising commercial cattle, wheat, hogs, and sheep.
The years rolled by, and all of Goggins’ enterprises grew-his children, his businesses, his papers. His young paper suffered growing pains along the way, changing its name every so often until finally it found one that stuck—Agri-News. Editors for both papers also came and went; no doubt, you’ll recall some of the folks who occupied the editors’ chairs over the years including Clark Schenkenberger, Becky Tescher, Marcia Krings, and Jamie Lane.
Now it’s September 2008—WLR is 68 years old, and Agri-News, 40. The cost of putting out two papers—postage, printing, and labor—has steadily and relentlessly increased; in addition, we have a significant number of readers who subscribe to both papers. So we have taken a deep breath and made a big decision: as of October 1, 2008, all of our readers—WLR and Agri-News readers alike—will receive in their mail boxes the first issue of Western Ag Reporter. This paper will have a new look, and with that new look will come the best of both papers... As I See It by Pat Goggins, Comments by John Goggins, Cooking in the West by Susan Metcalf, cartoons by Wally Badgett, Letters to the Editor, centennial photographs, markets, sale calendars and reports, and of course a concise compilation of the hard news that you all need to make business decisions as you go about your daily work.
To occupy the editor’s chair, and to ride herd on the weekly news, we were lucky to be able to bring back a former Agri-News editor whose enthusiasm for our new paper matches ours-Linda Grosskopf, a native Montanan and author who has spent her life ranching, riding, and writing. As some of you will remember, she sat in the Agri-News editor’s chair for 10 years (1995-2005), and we know her drive and genuine commitment for the ag community will again be appreciated.
We are proud of our staff of many years, and most will be part and parcel of Western Ag Reporter—Patrick K. Goggins, owner/publisher; John Goggins, Managing Publisher; Gary Kendall, Levi Landers, Kirby Goettsch, Marsha Christiansen, and Dwayne Dietz, sales reps; Jeni Nowak, classifieds; Dorothy Ketchem, accounting; Peggy Pollari, circulation; Donna Skidmore, production manager, Ann Hindley, production department; and of course Bonnie Zieske, our advertising and office manager, who has been with us for 45 years!
We are excited about Western Ag Reporter, which will truly be the best read ag publication in the West; while our predominance covers the 14 northwestern states, we are proud to say that we are read coast to coast and border to border, as well as in a number of foreign countries. As we embark on this new chapter, we look forward to serving you better. We welcome suggestions and feedback.