As a community, we make decisions every day, which affect our future.
Some of those decisions are big, such as building a new pool, having a new employer start up a business or renovating a downtown building.
Others are smaller, such as whether to have Christmas lights lining the rooftops of downtown businesses or welcoming signs at the edge of town, just so people know where they are.
And there are those decisions which affect the feel of the community. Do people say “Hi” as you walk down the street? Are the attitudes of the decision-makers in the community encouraging? Is the environment one where it is easy to get things done or are there barriers in place?
Do people feel welcomed and involved? Do young people feel like they are needed and wanted? Do people want to make things happen?
All of those decisions - both intentional and unintentional - add up to one thing…what kind of community we want and ultimately will have.
For some, they simply want a retirement community, where it’s quiet, where there's not much to do because you go to bed at 7 p.m. and where there is no reason to make investments in new playgrounds or wedding venues or preschools because older people don’t need those things.
And even if the goal is to create a retirement community, that can’t be done without one vital ingredient: young people.
Without young people, who is going to provide medical services? Without young people, who is going to own and operate our local businesses, providing a wider tax base? Without young people, who is going to teach in our school systems (and populate them with kids)?
And without young people, who is going to provide that youthful energy to get things done?
While a retirement community may sound ideal, a community can’t last without young people.
So ultimately we need to be making decisions which attract and keep our young people.
The consequences of past decisions are evident if you are out and about in the community.
As the race director for the local fitness series, I see how many people are signing up in the 10-year age divisions at each race. And the 20-29 men is always the lowest number of participants - if not completely non-existent - at each race. It could mean they don’t have the desire to run a 5K, or they don’t have the money to register, or they aren’t fit enough after four years of a college lifestyle. Yes this is purely anecdotal, but we simply don’t have many in that age group living here yet, if ever.
We make decisions to do - or not do - things which influence where our young people will decide to live. How do I know? Because my kids, along with their friends, are those young people making these life choices.
One of my sons moved back last year after graduating from college, making the conscious decision to move from Omaha to McCook. I also recently talked to another 20-something who moved back to the area to teach. Both have found employment and both have found housing which is adequate for the time being. But both noted that there is little for their age-group to get excited about and your 20s should be one of the most exciting times of your life.
Think back to when you were in your 20s and for some, this may be a stretch. What did you do with your free time? Go dancing? Go to the soda foundation? Simply hangout with your friends? Are those options available here?
Successful communities make investments in their young people. They create parks with trees they likely never sat under. They create programs which encourage young people to start a business. They created an environment where young people want to get involved, where they feel welcomed, where they feel needed.
If we want our community to not just survive but also thrive, our young people need us and we need our young people.
Jeremy Shaw named April 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
While the Bison Alumni Newsletter will still be available digitally, a new printed service is available.
During a recent performance at the Fox Theater by the Lied's Arts Across Nebraska, there was one group who was not thanked: those who showed up for the event, which is a big deal.
Mark Friehe named March McCook Volunteer of the Month.
Although the Bodensteiners no longer live in Southwest Nebraska, they are still connected and wanted to see if prosper and thrive.
From long-term projects to weekly events, you cannot say "there is nothing to do" or "nothing is happening."
With the goal of reaching 200 subscriptions, the Bison Alumni Newsletter is launching a subscription service.
Long-time volunteer Don Harpst was recognized as the first McCook Volunteer of the Month in March 2025.
McCook's youth survey shows that young people now value safety in their community, something McCook provides.
Building Connections in McCook Matters June in McCook will be abuzz with fun events including a Youth Summit, hosted by McCook Community Foundation Fund. Our young people in Youth Change Reaction will host the first Nebraska Community Foundation gathering for youth, which will bring youth from across Nebraska to McCook. While still in the planning stages, our students identified that McCook is great because of connections . Our young people easily recognize how critical this factor is to people attraction, to people retention, and to improve their futures. What I miss most about my high school classroom is connections with students and colleagues. In education, I taught first, second, and sometimes third generations in families. My husband, Greg, and I are not McCook natives, but I eventually knew who was related to whom and usually where the parent(s) were employed. Going to the grocery store meant greetings from students and sometimes their family members. I officially retired from my high school classroom nine years ago in May. When you retire, the most-asked question becomes “What do you do with your time?” I try to maintain those connections and make new ones by belonging. For the past seven years, Sharon Bohling and I have volunteered to help plan and organize Bison Days for our high school students, which took place February 10 and 11. It would not happen without the financial support of McCook Community Foundation Fund, plus the McCook High School, local businesses, and the talented people of Southwest Nebraska who say “yes” when one of us reaches out to ask for the donation of time and talent. I would venture that they allow us to be on the Bison Days’ committee because we both have connections within our community—it’s certainly not our computer savvy. Connections can also solve a problem. Recently, I signed up to help a local family in crisis. My morning plan revolved around delivering my donation at a designated drop-off place. That didn’t work out. Fortunately, I still work with youth in various capacities, so I know that Keri Wilkinson works for Camy Bradley. Keri was an organizer for the family fundraiser, so I walked in Camy’s office hoping to find Keri. She was not there, so Camy and I visited briefly. She knew someone (who I did not know) who could possibly give me further direction. Only in a town with connections are you able to interrupt someone’s business, have her reach out for you using her connections , and offer to keep the donations for me until Keri’s return. Another great example of connecting can be found over coffee. Dee Friehe and I are longtime teacher friends. During a chance meeting at the grocery store a few weeks ago, she shared how she was there following a funeral service and was gathering supplies to deliver supper to the grieving family that night. She also updated me on her group of adults who meet for coffee on Thursdays at Ember’s, which varies from 8-28 depending on the day. She recognized the need for adults moving to McCook or folks just wanting to get out to make connections . Dee’s husband, Mark, also hosts his own group of men who are new(er) to McCook. She regaled me with stories of their Christmas party and other special gatherings. Wanting to call McCook your home is solidified by building connections . Ronda Graff has written about McCook Connects which matches a McCook person with someone new to the community of similar interests. I earned my McCook Connects’ T-shirt welcoming a young family with children. We have since spent many hot summer days sitting on bleachers together cheering on our 4-H horse kids while they show their horses. Warning: I connected them with a “free” new-to-them horse. Be careful connecting with me or you’ll probably own a horse. You do not have to be retired to connect in this community. Volunteering is a surefire way to meet people. McCook has many civic groups looking for new faces. Attend a church here; we have many welcoming congregations. Go to ball games or school concerts, attend concerts in the park, learn a new skill through the college, show up at a Third Thursday event or invite the neighbors for a BBQ. Take your youngsters to story hour or Move and Groove at the library. Go watch an event at the Kiplinger Arena. You can even take it a step further: Make a friend or call a friend and invite him/her to go with you. It is human connection that keeps us healthy and happy. If McCook Community Foundation Fund can help you connect in some meaningful way, please reach out for advice or support. *** While Pam Wolford may be retired, she is just as busy serving on the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee and started a new Learn and Return Scholarship with MCFF, while stepping up to grandparent whenever the call comes in.
