Who's behind the news?
Who's behind the news?
Watford City, North Dakota, USA
McKenzie County Farmer is a weekly newspaper covering Watford City and McKenzie County, North Dakota. It is owned by Forum Communications Company.
Traces to The Watford Guide (1915) and a McKenzie County Farmer published in Arnegard, N.D. (1917); the two merged in 1928 to form the McKenzie County Farmer and Watford Guide, which became the present-day McKenzie County Farmer in 1944. Longtime publishers Neal and Lisa Shipman sold the paper in 2022 to Steve Hallstrom and Scott Hennen's Fargo-based Flag Family Media. Forum Communications Co. announced an agreement to acquire the paper in April 2026; the sale closed May 31, 2026.
Designated the official county and city newspaper of McKenzie County for decades under its predecessor titles.
General Manager: Patrice Bumstead
Chief Operating Officer, Forum Communications Co.: Bill Rouse
Residents of Watford City and McKenzie County, North Dakota.
Mailing Address
PO Box 587
Watford City, ND 58854
Phone
(701) 842-2351
Website
https://watfordcitynd.com
Sources
InForum. Forum Communications agrees to purchase McKenzie County newspaper
InForum. Forum Communications finalizes purchase of western ND newspaper
North Dakota Newspaper Association. McKenzie County Farmer listing
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