Congratulations

to our 2025 Citizen of the Year

Dar Hensley

Each year, in conjunction with the annual Spring Valley Potato Festival, the community is asked to nominate fellow community members for Citizen of the Year. A designated board reviews the nominations and selects the recipient(s) for the year. It is our pleasure to announce that the 2025 Citizen of the Year is Dar Hensley. Please join us on Saturday, October 4 at 2:30pm, at Thompson Pavilion where she will be presented this award!!

Dar Hensley grew up in nearby Xenia, Ohio, the daughter of John and Sharon Sherer. She is married to Steve Hensley and they have two children, Lucy & Josh, and two grandchildren, Macie and Jace. 

Dar is known to the community as pastor for the Spring Valley Global Methodist Church since 2015. The Hensley’s moved to the village of Spring Valley in 2020. Dar first served the church at age 19 as a youth director and always wanted to return to this community church. She graduated from Wilmington College and United Theological Seminary and has had a 40 year career in the ministry. In the time Dar has served as the pastor to the local Global Methodist Church, the congregation has had significant growth. 

What Dar loves about Spring Valley is the small town vibe where people look out for one another and overcome their diversities to come together. She enjoys being creative and discovering new visions for community outreach. Currently, the congregation and Dar use a garden at the parsonage to provide food for those in need. She and a few members also conduct trauma therapy classes and visitations with the donkeys housed on the property adjacent to the church. She is looking forward to more opportunities to facilitate healing and wellness as well as ministry outreach with the Spring Valley community. Dar is hopeful that the community can come together even more to create ways to assist everyone with their health and wellness and appreciates any interest from community members. 

Some ways Dar has contributed to the local community include being a founding member of Spring Valley Cares which organizes Rally in the Valley and GO Spring Valley, working in teams to improve residents' homes and gardens. She and church members also head up a monthly food distribution through Country Cupboard Food Pantry. She facilitated contributions made to Slims Neighborhood Bar & Grill during the 2020 COVID pandemic to help keep them afloat, and she is a member of Spring Valley ACTS and the community watch. The Hensley's took in one of our favorite residents, Dave Shinkle, a previous Citizen of the Year recipient, when he was in need of a home. She's always willing to help Spring Valley businesses, citizens, and organizations in any way she can. We sincerely appreciate her compassion and dedication for all. Congratulations!