A Message from ARH President & CEO Hollie Harris.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There are people who come into your life for a reason, and then there are people who leave a lasting mark on your heart. Dale Dobson, Safety Administrator for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division of Farm Safety and Rural Health, was one of those people.

As I learned of Dale’s passing yesterday, my thoughts immediately returned to where our friendship began and how one conversation grew into a partnership that has already changed the lives of thousands of Kentucky farmers and their families.

I first met Dale three years ago at the Kentucky State Fair while we were participating in Kentucky’s Food is Medicine initiative. I was there talking about healthy food and healthier communities. Dale was thinking even bigger.

He shared with me the health challenges facing Kentucky’s farming community — how too many farmers were going without preventive healthcare, how mental health struggles were affecting families, and how the people who work tirelessly to feed us often put their own health last. I told him that ARH could help. Together, we could care for both the physical and mental health needs of Kentucky’s farmers.

That conversation became the beginning of a remarkable friendship and an incredible partnership.

Together with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Raising Hope, we launched the Farmer Care Initiative, taking healthcare directly to farmers and meeting them where they are. For more than 70 years, ARH has proudly cared for coal miners and their families. Through Dale’s vision, we expanded that mission to include another group whose work is essential to the Commonwealth — our farmers.

What began as an idea has grown into a movement. In just two short years since launching the Farmer Care Initiative in 2024, we have provided more than 3,000 health screenings at nearly 100 events, connecting thousands of Kentucky farmers and farm families with preventive care, health education, and life-saving resources. KDA and ARH have partnered to offer a special hotline line available 24/7 for those seeking non-emergency, mental health support, and resources in their local community.

 This year, together we expanded that work even further with a dedicated carotid ultrasound screening program to help detect heart disease and stroke before tragedy strikes. Every milestone reflects Dale’s belief that healthcare should meet people where they are.

One of my most treasured memories is the day we formally announced the Farmer Care Initiative. Dale presented me with one of his Farmer Suicide Prevention Challenge Coins — a symbol of hope, compassion, and our shared commitment to improving the lives of Kentucky’s farmers. I have kept that coin as a reminder of the promise we made together.

More than his accomplishments, I will remember Dale for who he was. He was one of the most genuine and loving people I have ever known. I honestly don’t think I ever saw him have a bad day. He loved the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and he especially loved our agricultural community. His kindness, optimism, and servant’s heart inspired everyone to be fortunate enough to know him.

While we mourn the loss of our dear friend, we also celebrate a life that changed countless others for the better. Dale’s legacy lives on in every farmer who receives preventive care, every family strengthened through better health, and every life touched by the work he so passionately championed.

On behalf of everyone at Appalachian Regional Healthcare, I extend our deepest sympathies to Dale’s family, his friends, and our partners at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. We are grateful for the privilege of walking alongside Dale in this important work, and we remain committed to carrying his vision forward.

Thank you, Dale, for believing in ARH, for believing in Kentucky’s farmers, and for showing us all what it means to lead with compassion, purpose, and heart. Your legacy will continue to grow in the fields, farms, and communities you loved so deeply.

Hollie Harris
ARH President & CEO