Dubois County Honors Business Leaders, Farming Innovation at Luncheon

The Dubois County Chamber of Commerce used its annual luncheon on November 13 to spotlight local entrepreneurship, civic engagement and agricultural innovation. Held at Venue 1408, the event showcased the Chamber's members and programs and culminated in awards for Young Professional of the Year, Business Person of the Year and Business of the Year.

Austin Welp emerged as the 2025 Young Professional of the Year after a field of three candidates. The Business Person of the Year recognition went to Kathy Tretter, longtime publisher and editor of Ferdinand News and Spencer County Leader, following nominations that included community figures such as Mike Ackerman and Kyle Lueken. Finalists for Business of the Year were The Next Chapter, the downtown Jasper coffee and bookshop, Mann Enterprises, and Uebelhor & Sons. Uebelhor & Sons was named Business of the Year. The event program included photos and additional details about nominees and honorees.

A keynote address by Dave Fischer of Fischer Farms framed the awards within broader economic and environmental trends. Fischer traced his company history and described regenerative farming practices as a strategy for improving soil health, lowering long term input costs and increasing resilience to weather variability. For an area where agriculture remains an important economic anchor, the emphasis on regenerative practices points to how local producers are adapting to market and climate pressures.

For residents of Dubois County the awards do more than confer prestige. Recognition from the Chamber raises business visibility, which can translate into increased customer traffic, stronger recruitment prospects and greater leverage when pursuing grants or public support. Independent retailers such as The Next Chapter and established firms like Uebelhor & Sons both benefit from this spotlight in different ways, whether through foot traffic in downtown Jasper or through strengthened community reputation.

The luncheon also reaffirmed the Chamber's role in fostering connections between business, media and agriculture in the county. By highlighting a publisher, young professionals and farming innovators in the same program, the organization signaled that leadership comes from multiple sectors and that cross sector collaboration will be central to local economic resilience. As Dubois County navigates labor market shifts and evolving consumer preferences, the Chamber's awards and programming provide a platform for promoting best practices, advocating for supportive local policies and steering long term economic growth.