Early-morning chickadee calls and swelling buds signal the farm’s gentle shift from winter to spring. The farm comes alive with tiny stirrings, promising a season of new growth and renewed hope.

Eugene Mortimer Armstrong, born in Jefferson in 1919 and raised partly on a family farm, will be honored in the 2025 Gold Star Hall ceremony. He spent his formative years in Ames, where his family moved when he was just nine years old.

Born in Olympia, Washington, and raised on a family farm, Vicki Ann Nelson Masten’s life was defined by close bonds and devotion to those around her. This remembrance celebrates her roots, her relationships, and her unwavering love for family.