KEARNEY - Last week, more than three dozen McCook residents traveled to Kearney to learn, to connect, and to dream as part of the Nebraska Community Foundation’s annual training. Some might remember when NCF was in McCook in 2021 and included the “Night on the Bricks” that toured downtown locations with artwork and food. 

At this year’s training, McCook participants included students, city officials, hospital representatives, school administrators, and nursing home board members to name just a few. They gave of their time to learn more about what each and everyone of them can do to make an impact in their organization and in their community. 

But perhaps my biggest takeaway is that everyone of every age has something to contribute to making our communities the best that they can be. 

McCook participants ranged in age from 14 to 89 and that is not a typo. Literally, every generation was represented at the NCF training with each person gleaning something different based upon their own personal experiences and their own personal dreams for their future. 

Just because someone is young or old does not mean that they don’t have something to contribute. Age on either end does not make you obsolete.

Instead, both younger and older people bring their own unique perspective to the situation. The older generations bring years of experience, while younger people bring a fresh set of eyes.

They also help shed light on the challenges faced by younger and older people in our community. 

We tell our young people that we want to hear their voices, but do we actually listen? Do we help them achieve what they want to see happen? Nothing shuts down a person, but especially our young people, more than not following through on a promise to help them. Studies have shown that young people will eventually not share their ideas because they tried in the past yet no one listened so they shut down. 

When our young people speak up, we need to pay attention, we need to listen, we need to recognize the value of what they are saying. And perhaps most importantly, we need to work hand-in-hand with our young people to help them develop into our future leaders. 

Shaping our future leaders is why the McCook Community Foundation Fund specifically invited its youth group, Youth Change Reaction, to the NCF training. Just being around other people who are excited about working to make their communities better is inspiring. Hopefully, some of that enthusiasm just naturally rubs off and influences the next generation. 

Immersing young people in positive, uplifting thinking will change their thought process as they move forward. They learn that they can make a difference, that they can be involved, that adults want to hear their ideas and opinions and will work with them side-by-side to make those dreams a reality. 

During NCF’s training, McCook’s youngest participants were regularly asked questions by the adults in attendance. The adults genuinely want to know what the young people think about their communities, how they get involved, how they make things happen. The adults were intrigued about YCR’s drive-in movie project, Cars Under the Stars, which will hopefully open next spring at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. They wanted to know how our young people made it happen, how they raised the funds, as well as the ups and the downs - all of which our McCook young people were a part of and were able to share their own personal experiences.

And our older - or experienced - McCook participants are just as valuable. I cite specifically Don Harpst, who doesn’t say as much as he closes in on his ninth decade. But when he does speak, the room goes quiet and not just because he is soft-spoken. Instead, we know he will be sharing words of wisdom earned over years of involvement and gleaned from a love of his community. 

Some might dismiss our older generation because they have “had their moment” and let’s be honest, because they won’t likely be around to see all of the fruits of their labor. But they still have the passion, the desire and the knowledge to make their communities better for their children and their children’s children. 

The McCook participants returned from the NCF training in Kearney with new ideas and new relationships. But perhaps most importantly, they returned inspired to bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to work together to make McCook and Southwest Nebraska an even better place to call home.