Farmer sold to Flag Family Media
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Effective July 1, 2022, there will be a new owner of the McKenzie County Farmer as Fargo-based Flag Family Media has finalized its purchase of McKenzie County’s oldest business.
The purchase includes the newspaper, online properties, social media accounts, and the business property from Neal and Lisa Shipman and their two sons, Justin and Jason. The Farmer will be operated under the newly formed organization, McKenzie County Media LLC.
The transaction is the company’s first purchase of a non-radio entity, and adds ‘The Farmer’ to a group that includes two radio stations in North Dakota, WZFG ‘The Flag’ in Fargo at AM 1100 / FM 92.3 and KTGO ‘The Flag’ in Tioga at AM 1090 and FM 92.7, as well as three stations in Grand Rapids, Minn., including KOZY 1320 AM / 93.1 FM, KMFY 96.9 FM and KBAJ 105.5 FM.
“This is an exciting day for our company,” says Steve Hallstrom, Flag Family Media president and managing partner. “The McKenzie County Farmer has a rich tradition, serving the Watford City area since 1908.