Rocco Baviera
Peace of Mind, February
This story was an interesting and beautiful first-person look into what it’s like living with a dementia diagnosis. Mark Troth’s very personal essay was moving, and the illustration (provided by Rocco Baviera) was fitting and evocative and really elevated the piece.
—Alex Dal Santo, assistant production manager
Women Airforce Service Pilots assigned to Camp Davis in North Carolina pose in front of a Beechcraft AT-11.
Courtesy Official National WASP WWII Museum, Sweetwater, Texas
The Wasps Who Flew Out of Sweetwater, April
I loved learning about the women who participated in this program to serve their country as pilots during World War II. They were pioneers, and their stories continue to inspire today.
—Samantha Bryant, communications specialist
Supercells like this one near Claude trigger an adrenaline rush for storm chasers.
Jenny Brown
Twisted Approach, May
Twisted Approach really spoke to the storm chaser in me. I agree with Carrie Cunningham: “It’s spiritual being with the storms and nature.”
—Erin Sinclair, communications specialist
Rent-A-Ruminant owners Kyle and Carolyn Carr manage a herd of about 600 goats that can landscape in hard-to-reach areas.
Eric W. Pohl
Gorging a Path, June
Between the playful writing and downright adorable snapshots, it’s hard not to crack a smile.
—Caytlyn Calhoun, digital media specialist
Bruce Townsley in his missile silo in Oplin. The crib, the silo’s steel framework, held an Atlas F intercontinental missile in the early 1960s.
Eric W. Pohl
Counting Down, September
This is an unfair task—spotlighting just one story when so many come to mind. So I’m joining Samantha Bryant and going underground, where I learned so much about the retired missile silos in Texas that I didn’t even know were there.
—Tom Widlowski, associate editor
Jerry Nichols, at her Quitman home, holds a portrait from her wedding to Juan D.
Jay Patrick
Her Life of Service, October
A co-op daughter shines a sweet light on the important work of co-op wives—through the lens of her own mother. Jerry Nichols wasn’t paid for the “consuming job” of being married to the manager of an electric cooperative, but she used her role to help open doors for female leaders in the utility industry.
—Chris Burrows, editor
Terry Foresman seeks the taste of success.
Julia Robinson
Spice—And Everything Nice, November
This delightful piece puts readers right into the world of chili cook-offs and introduces them to an awesome community of women. And the accompanying The Roots of Red, which gives the history of the dish, ties it all together.
—Claire Stevens, communications specialist
Julia Robinson did a wonderful job painting a picture of the chili competition, making it feel like you’re there. The addition of The Roots of Red side story is an amazing complement to the feature, rounding it out with historical context.
—Kelly Tran, communications specialist
