Leadership is a simple word. A 10-letter word containing three syllables. A word we commonly use for those who go above and beyond to bring goodness to people.
Our world has had many great leaders, but even great leaders didn’t get to the pinnacle by themselves. Take Michel Jordan, Tom Osborne, or Warren Buffet. They all had mentors in their life to help them grow into a person who brought extraordinary outcomes in their professional lives.
The word leadership and Nebraska communities seemingly go hand and hand. Nebraskans are known for our strong drive, cohesiveness, and philanthropic mindset to help others. As we discuss leadership of the next generation, we commonly hear, “Our youth are the future.” The obvious response is, “Yes.”
But dive deeper into the phrase, “Our youth are the future,” and what are we actively doing to prepare them? Are they in a unique position of being mentored as well as mentoring others? Are we teaching them proper life skills, intrapersonal skills, money management, professional development and morals? Are there leaders in their life facilitating development for our local community to lead us into 2030, 2040, 2050 and beyond?
If we are honest with ourselves, we are failing our youth to reach their full potential in many ways. Oftentimes we fail them not because the youth aren’t talented or capable of learning. Rather, it is due to us not having the trust that our young people are capable. We scrutinize so closely; we don’t let them make mistakes; or we, as adults, claim to always know what is best. Based solely on the year we were born, we are quick to utilize an age barrier and say, “There is no way they could know more or know better than me.”
But to build a healthy community, we have to start at the foundation. When we say, “Our youth is the future,” we must acknowledge that our young people are the foundation of the future. So, how can we help foster a strong foundation of the future?
I challenge each of us to consider ways to lift up our youth. It truly is up to each and every one of us. Not coincidentally, this is the slogan of McCook Community Foundation Fund’s youth group, Youth Change Reaction (YCR). YCR believes that it is up to each and every one of us to make our community a better place to call McCook home.
It is up to us as leaders to build our youth through:
Connecting youth to adult leaders
Whether at the city council, on a board such as the YMCA or various leadership groups, we must allow them to have a seat at the table. We can learn from them just as much as they learn from us.
Grant opportunities for professional development
We need to create internship experiences that offer education and build skills, not just extract grunt labor.
Teach life lessons
We all need to learn that failing is OK sometimes. Failure promotes a development of understanding and we can learn more from our mistakes than our achievements.
Networking in a small community
We need to share the opportunities in our community with our youth, we need to utilize and showcase their talents and we need to get them involved at every level. How? Take them to lunch to share information, but more importantly - to listen.
Build relationships
It all comes down to relationships. We need to mentor our youth and we need to let our youth mentor us.
Leadership is a simple word, but nurturing and creating strong leaders is much more complex. If we want a growing and thriving community in 2050 and beyond, we must develop our young people into our leaders of the future. We need to bring them to the table to learn - now. We need them to provide their insight - now. We need them to be part of making McCook an even better place to call home - now.
Gavin Harsh is the vice president of the McCook Community Foundation Fund. With his birthday Wednesday, he is both among the “young people” he refers to but also a tremendous leader in the community.
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.
