Every morning in Bourbon County, someone arrives to work before the sun comes up. A rancher is checking cows, a baker is pulling the first batch from the oven, and a nurse is finishing a night shift.
Most of us drive past these people every day. We wave, we nod, and we rarely stop to ask who they really are.
I want to change that.
Starting today, I'm launching a new weekly column called Hands of Bourbon County. Each week will feature one person from our county, one photograph and their story in their own words, published exclusively in The Bourbon County Monitor.
The idea comes from Humans of New York, Brandon Stanton's project sharing the stories of ordinary people with no reporter in the way. I believe the same stories are all around us here. We just haven't asked.
Every feature will include two photos: a portrait and a close-up of the person's hands. Hands show the years of work, the calluses, the scars and the care.
Agriculture is the backbone of Bourbon County, and farmers and ranchers will have a regular place in this column. I also want the artist with paint on her fingers, the man who has run the same machine for 30 years, the shop owner on Main Street, the teacher, the mechanic, the veteran and the kid with big plans.
This isn't news, and it isn't politics. You won't find my opinions or my questions in it, only the person talking the way they would to a neighbor. I'll edit for length and flow, but the words will always be theirs.
We hear plenty about what divides us. I hope this column helps readers see a little of themselves in these stories, and a little more of each other.
If you're willing to share your story, or know someone who should be featured, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me on Facebook or by email at curtis@bourboncountymonitor.com.
I'll come to you, and interviews will be free-flowing; some may take 30 minutes, others an hour…it all depends on your story!
The first feature runs October 10, 2026, with a new feature every week, right here.
Everyone in this county has a story worth telling. Let's tell them.
