🌻 Small Town, Big Stories: How Derek White is Rewriting Colby’s News Scene Bold.

Local. Unfiltered. And exactly what Colby didn’t know it needed.

It Started With a Question (and a Whole Lot of Purpose)

What do you do when your hometown gives you everything?

If you’re Derek White—you give it something back.

After graduating from Metropolitan State University of Denver, Derek didn’t just go looking for a job… he went looking for purpose. And when his time with the Colby Free Press came to an end, he noticed something important—Colby was missing a consistent, independent voice in local news.

So instead of waiting around?

He built one.

Starting From Scratch (No Safety Net, Just Grit)

Let’s be real—starting your own media company isn’t exactly the “easy route.”

Derek White

Between finances, time, and the constant hustle, Derek is living that 7-days-a-week grind. And here’s the kicker—his content is FREE. No subscriptions. No paywalls. Just community-supported storytelling through donations and local advertising.

Bold move? Absolutely. But also… very Colby.

Because if there’s one thing about this town—it shows up.

Turns Out… Colby Has A LOT Going On

One of Derek’s biggest surprises?

There’s no shortage of stories here.

Like… not even close.

From school events and sports to city meetings and everyday community moments—there’s more happening in Colby than one person can keep up with.

And honestly? We love to see it.

Because it proves something we already know:👉 Colby isn’t boring—you’re just not paying attention.

A Day in the Life (Spoiler: There Is No “Normal”)

Forget routines.

Derek is doing it ALL—writing, editing, taking photos, running the website, designing content… you name it.

And behind the scenes? His wife Letty is helping keep things running smoothly on the admin side.

Teamwork makes the dream work!!!

It’s not just a business—it’s a full-on team effort.

(We love a power couple moment, honestly.)

💛 The Best Part? You.

When Derek launched Sunflower Standard Publishing, there was one big unknown:

“Will people care?”

Short answer? They do. A lot.

The support from the community has been overwhelming in the best way—proving that people want local stories, need local stories, and are proud of where they live.

And that kind of support? That’s what keeps things going.

📰 Why This Matters (Like… Actually Matters)

Here’s the thing—local journalism isn’t just “nice to have.”

It’s necessary.

It celebrates the wins, highlights the people doing good, and yes—keeps things transparent when it comes to decisions that affect all of us.

Derek isn’t just reporting the news—he’s helping shape how our community stays connected, informed, and accountable.

And in a world full of noise? That’s powerful.

The Vision: Bigger, Better, Still Local

Derek in his element

So what’s next?

Growth.

With continued support, Derek hopes to expand—bringing in more help, covering more stories, and maybe even reaching surrounding communities.

Because the goal is simple:

👉 Tell the stories that matter.

👉 Make them accessible.

👉 And never lose that local heartbeat.

🌻 Final Thoughts From Your CVB Director (Hi, It’s Me 👋)

I’ll be honest—I love this.

I love seeing people take initiative, take risks, and pour into a community like this. That’s exactly what Derek is doing.

Colby thrives when people step up—and this is one of those moments.

So next time you see a story, a post, or a headline from Sunflower Standard Publishing… take a second to appreciate it.

Because behind it is someone working tirelessly to make sure Colby’s story is told—and told well.

And that? That’s something worth supporting.