This is McCook’s decade! I believe we’ll be sitting downtown after a Live at the Bieroc show in 2030 and look back and be amazed at what the community has accomplished. We’ll talk about how we built a new aquatics facility and new athletic fields. We’ll be excited about the improvements in programming and facilities at the Y. We’ll share about our visit with new business owners who purchased existing businesses and have kept the downtown active. Maybe we’ll even have someone at our table who is enjoying their new home in the new subdivision. It will be a great night.
2020 has been a challenging year for our nation. It is discouraging to see how the pandemic, systematic racism, and environmental crisis have affected our country. On the flip side, it has taught millions of people how to work from anywhere and longing for a higher quality of life.
This puts McCook in a great place and creates a sense of urgency to build a better community to call home. I’m proud to be part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee as it is an organization that is the catalyst to move some of these initiatives forward. One of our core beliefs is we have abundance and assets in our community that we can build upon.
The idea of abundance has always been difficult for me, but I’ve had a chance to see it up close recently. I’ve been a part of the conversations with Senator Ben Nelson to create an endowment that will drastically improve our library programming. I’ve seen another large endowment gift come to the foundation. I’ve benefited from another funder who wanted to both make the Keystone Cowork Space a reality and to help MCFF get a $20,000 match to assist our local schools adapt to the pandemic.
People who live and grew up in McCook still love McCook. It is encouraging in my role as people reach out to me from across the country wanting to get updates and offer their assistance to make McCook a better place.
This being the case, we can’t wait for the calvary to save us or move us forward. For McCook to move forward, we need to move McCook forward. This will require some sacrifice as we give more of our time, talent, and treasures to our community. This will require us to examine our individual responsibilities to our community and neighborhood instead of parading around our individual rights. This will require us to invest in our community.
Rural communities that are moving forward have a vision for a better future, tell the positive side of their local story, and have strong public-private partnerships. The things we want to see happen this next decade will require the participation of city and county government, philanthropy, and our business community. The exciting thing is I know we have the people and organizations that can make it happen.
There’s big things in store for our community this decade, but we need your involvement. The McCook Community Foundation Fund has grown our endowment to be able to provide over $100,000 in grants on an annual basis. If you are a part of an eligible organization, our next grant application deadline is October 1. If you are able to give to build the endowment, let us know.
This It is our time! Help us know what you want to see a part of our vision and let us know how you can help. We have a strong heritage in McCook. Those of us working in the community today are standing on the shoulders of giants. Now is our time to move this community to the next level. I’m looking forward to that conversation we’ll be having at the Bieroc in 10 years because this is our decade.
Among his many affiliations, Andy Long is the executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corporation and a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee.
Once a month, a member of the MCFF committee will take over the Community Connection column to share why they belong to the fund and why it is important to the community.
Sara Rippen named February 2026 McCook Volunteer of the Month
Practicing Good Stewardship Takes Effort But Reaps Many Rewards
Bison Days brings high schoolers and community members to learn about job possibilities but also interests and hobbies in their hometown.
With little to snow on the ground in McCook, holiday lights help beat the drab and dreary season.
To kick off the new year, Jo Beebe has been selected as the January 2026 McCook Volunteer of the month. While many people might know Jo for her years at the Sports Shoppe, she can be found giving hours of her time to the community, especially at St. Patrick Church. Whether during the weekly Mass or for a funeral or wedding, Jo shares her beautiful voice from the choir loft, as well as leading the choir members. Jo, along with her husband Harold, also has served as the St. Pat’s GALA host couple in the past and continues to help with set-up and cleanup of the annual event. Jo is also active with the Fall Festival, the Rosary Rally and the Wild Game Feed in Curtis every year. She attends every the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class and helps students prepare for confirmation. And since retiring from the Sports Shoppe, she is active in the Altar Society, and volunteers at the Bargain Bazaar thrift store. According to her nomination, “The way Jo gives of her time and talents to our parish and community is a reflection of her faith,” and the community and the church are better because of her generosity. The McCook Philanthropy Council selects the monthly recipient for the McCook Volunteer of the Month award as part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s McCook Volunteer program. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308.340.3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the MCFF website, mccookfoundation.org to complete a nomination form. The only requirement is that the nominee must be a resident of McCook or Red Willow County. Please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community.
Master Storyteller Will be Missed but Memories Remain
Maintaining the status quo or not doing anything may be cheaper initially but long-term, the costs are more.
Make 2026 memorable by getting involved and making an impact in your community.
As the year comes to a close, members of the MCFF Advisory Committee share "why" they do their community work.
