By Jason Sethre
Publisher
Fillmore County Journal
jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com
April is National Volunteer Month, and there’s so much that wouldn’t get done in our communities without the leadership and dedication of our selfless volunteers.
There are parks, playgrounds, and public spaces dedicated to music, history, arts and entertainment — all the work of volunteers. The majority of recognition honoring our veterans is the work of volunteers with organizations like the VFW, American Legion, Women’s Auxillary, and Sons of American Legion. And, of course, we have emergency responders in every community.
We have so many volunteers doing amazing things for the betterment of our communities.
Starting in 2023, the team at the Fillmore County Journal chose to initiate a recognition program for the Volunteer of the Year
Our first honoree was Spring Grove Fire Chief Trent Turner, recognized as the 2023 Volunteer of the Year.
In 2024, Paul Corcoran, a long-time member of the Rushford Ambulance and Fire Departments, serving as chief along with many other roles over the course of more than 37 years, was recognized as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year.
This year, we’ve received a few nominations, but we’d like to see more.
This gives everyone a chance to give someone a “pat on the back” and thank them for their selflessness.
And, it doesn’t cost nominators anything to nominate someone for this honor.
This program benefits our communities and volunteer organizations each year as our newspaper donates $250 to the cause of choice selected by the Volunteer of the Year.
Another important element of this recognition is the spotlight it puts on volunteerism and specifically the organizations where the Volunteer of the Year dedicates their time and energy.
As a family-owned newspaper, we feel it’s important to continuosly find ways to recognize people for making our community a better place to live, work, raise a family, and do business.
That’s why we’ve dedicated resources and funding, along with collaborating with local leaders who share that same vision.
If you’d like to nominate someone for the 2025 Volunteer of the Year, the deadline is Friday, March 14, 2025. The nomination form is on this page or you can visit www.fillmorecountyjournal.com for more information.