It is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I write to you. I have been Publisher of Farm World for the last eight years. In that time I’ve met many of our loyal advertisers and readers. And I have had an absolutely wonderful time.

However, in the last few months, a new opportunity has opened up in dmg world media’s design sector, and I felt it was time for a new adventure. So I’m leaving Farm World in March of this year. I’m truly sad to leave the ag business. But I’m happy that the newspaper will be left in excellent hands.

I wish you the best of luck and good fortune in the future.

Tony Gregory named Publisher
Hodson, Blower: Associate Publishers

I’m delighted to announce that both Toni Hodson and Dave Blower have been promoted to the position of Associate Publisher. Toni and Dave will take on overall responsibility for Farm World, Marketplace and Farm World Expo. They will work together to provide leadership for Farm World and report into Tony Gregory, who has been promoted to Publisher.

Toni has been instrumental in building Farm World’s level of advertising support. She joined Farm World in 1994 as a sales representative and was promoted to Sales Manager in 2001. Toni and her husband have been farming in Rush County for more than 40 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the newspaper.

Dave joined Farm World as assistant editor in 2000 and was promoted to editor in 2001. His first achievement was a major editorial revamp and redesign of the paper. Under Dave’s watch, Farm World’s editorial has gone from strength to strength, and today largely consists of stories that are unique to Farm World. Dave has 19 years experience in the newspaper business and is an accomplished journalist and editor.

Tony Gregory now has overall responsibility for Farm World and our other newspapers, namely AntiqueWeek and Auction Exchange and Collectors News. Tony joined us as production manager in 1998 and was promoted to Associate Publisher in 2005.

— Richard Lewis