As part of my summer hometown internship with the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Fund Committee and Nebraska Community Foundation, I was asked to write a “love letter” to the committee and the community. The letter is to not only sum up what I have learned and experienced the past few months, but also to share what I love about my hometown.

What an incredible summer! I am beyond grateful to have served as MCFF’s Summer Hometown Intern. During my time as an intern, I have had many valuable experiences. My top two lessons involve the importance of collaboration and learning more about the vast history of McCook. Discovering more about these concepts has made my love for my hometown grow more than I ever thought possible.

When it comes to collaboration, I have had the opportunity to work with interesting people on several riveting projects. Three of my projects have all relied on my ability to effectively collaborate and work with others. My favorite collaborative event is the upcoming Prairie Roots Music Festival and McCookoff BBQ contest, taking place at the Heritage Hills Golf Course on August 19th.  I have been lucky enough to work with MCFF’s youth group, Youth Change Reaction (YCR), to develop games and activities at Prairie Roots. 

Having lived in McCook my entire life, I am very aware of its interesting history but have learned so much more. For example, McCook was founded as a railroad town and continues to serve as a hub on the rail line. I also learned about the area's role in World War II, serving as  the location of the McCook Army Air Base as well as the Indianola German POW camp. 

Before the internship began, I knew that McCook has been the home to several politicians, including Sen. George W. Norris and three Nebraska governors: Ralph Brooks, Sen. Ben Nelson, and Frank Morrison. But I expanded that background by researching each political figure as part of the Heritage Square Walking Tour, another MCFF project.

This research also led to my discovery that McCook has been visited by several politicians over the past century. Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech to a crowd of thousands in McCook as a tribute to Sen. Norris in September of 1932. In September 1964, Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke to a McCook audience about the importance of federal partnership in Western reclamation development. And Ronald Reagan discussed the need for a reformed tax structure, as well as unions and strikes, during a stop in Southwest Nebraska in the 1980s. 

As my internship with MCFF comes to a close, I am thankful for the lessons I have learned, the experiences I have had and the people I have met, including McCook’s fund advisory committee. I appreciate learning about the importance of collaboration and the rich history of McCook, which has only further solidified my love for my hometown. I look forward to seeing how the future of McCook unfolds.

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A 2020 McCook High School graduate, Hannah Goltl has served as MCFF’s intern this summer, bringing enthusiasm and energy to learn more about her hometown and make it an even better place to call home.