Throughout my life, I have always been active in the community. I have participated in a wide variety of activities ranging from sports’ camps to 4-H activities, including a commitment from my 4-H club to a community service learning project. 

Participating in these activities has given me the opportunity to learn not only what it means to be active in the community, but to also assist in bettering it for others. Without these experiences, I would not have had such a strong interest in joining Youth Change Reaction (YCR), the youth organization for the McCook Community Foundation Fund. 

Through YCR, I knew that I would be able to help further the betterment of our community in ways I would never have dreamt of previously. Joining YCR has been one of the best experiences I have had and has taught me what it takes to have and build a great community. 


Growing up in McCook, I always experienced camps and activities that were put on by others in the community. The memories I have gained from these events are some of the most important memories of my childhood due to how much I enjoyed them. 

As I grew up, I wanted to be a part of the people who put events on in the community so I could give others the same joy that I had experienced. As I aged through 4-H, I had the opportunity to help others with their projects and activities. 

When I was in 8th grade and eligible to join YCR, I knew I wanted to be a part of the organization because its main focus is to benefit the community. 

Prior to joining, I was familiar with YCR because my older sister is a former member. I watched the events that she helped create and put on during her four years as a member, including a dive-in movie at the YMCA and hosting dances at the junior high. This involvement solidified my decision to apply as a member when the time came. 

Not only has YCR allowed me to help make our community a better place for everyone but it has given me the opportunity and resources to grow and become a better leader. Being a member of a group that aids young people in becoming future leaders is an invaluable asset for the future generation.

My involvement in YCR has also shown me what it really takes to make a community great: hard work and dedication. Most people don’t see all time and effort it takes to take a project from an idea to completion. But that is what is required if we want to make our communities a great place to live for generations to come.

For starters, citizens must buy in and be willing to put in the time necessary to reach their goals. It takes teamwork from not only a multitude of people but multiple groups, a variety of organization, and people of all ages. One singular group cannot make a community accomplish great things. It takes collaboration, including the young and old. The saying, “Many hands make light work,” is especially true when it comes to a community coming together to accomplish a goal. 

As I prepare to graduate from high school in just a few months, I have reflected on everything I have learned, which I will use the rest of my life. The skills I have gained and the people I have met these past four years on YCR will help me become a strong and beneficial leader in my future community - wherever that is. 

Using the enthusiasm from my fellow YCR members and the knowledge from the adults surrounding me, I will take the amazing ideas and vision that McCook’s community has and spread them to wherever I end up. As I prepare for the next state of my life, joining YCR will always be one of the greatest opportunities I have ever had to learn, grow, and see how important being part of the community can be. 


James Neel is a senior at McCook High School, a four-year member of YCR and the reigning Red Willow 4-H Senior Showmanship Champion at the 4-H dog show.

Love for McCook Grows Through Internship

By Natalie Roberts • August 15, 2025
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.

Summer and McCook Tradition Coming to an End

By Ronda Graff • August 8, 2025
With the McCook Aquatic Center closing soon for the season, another tradition - Mr. Bill and his 25-cent snow-cones - will likely be coming to an end soon too.

McCook Named to Revitalize and Thrive Communities

By Ronda Graff • August 6, 2025
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program

Getting Outside to National Night Out

By Ronda Graff • August 4, 2025
Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.

July 2025 Volunteer Makes Positive Impact At Chamber and Across Community

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month

June Volunteer of the Month Key to Numerous Organizations

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month

Sharing Books and Bikes Great Use of Resources

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Sharing our resources, such as books and bikes and even benches, help our community better for everyone.

Celebrating a Flurry of Activity in Our Community

By Ronda Graff • July 19, 2025
For many years, McCook did just enough to get by but now there is a flurry of activity - with much more possible - which we should be celebrating.

Family Resource Center Using Grant for New Ideas

By Ronda Graff • July 15, 2025
Family Resource Center is using a grant from MCFF to support current and new projects.

Picking up the Lost Baton That Lead To Cars Under the Stars

By Gavin Harsh • July 9, 2025
It was fall of 2012. I was a senior in high school and preparing for the next chapter of my life, college. I was determined that I was going to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for physical therapy. I also knew to go through undergrad and graduate school I was going to need a lot of scholarships or “student debt” would be my middle name. With that mindset, I ultimately decided not to play basketball my senior year to allocate my time to scholarship applications and a part-time job. It was a tough decision since I enjoyed playing basketball and being around my friends, but it was an investment toward my future. Flash forward to early spring, where I was absolutely blessed by being recognized as a recipient of numerous scholarships that alleviated a major financial burden! Leading up to that point, I was already active in community service projects. But upon receiving those scholarships, I was motivated to give back and say “thank you” for the investment in my education by others. I wanted to do something big, something that would impact the community. Through various conversations and research, I decided to bring back an iconic memory to many McCook natives, a drive-in movie. Through strong partnerships with many local businesses and volunteers, we held a drive-in movie not only my senior year but also my first two years of college, as I returned to help coordinate the project. During the three years of shows in McCook, we rented all the equipment from Dallas, but the dream was to build a permanent, non-profit drive-in for the community to use. However, as I progressed further in my new career of farming, my resources of time and energy were capped and the event sat idle. That is until a group of young, ambitious, and talented students picked up the lost baton. During numerous discussions, Youth Change Reaction members, otherwise known as YCR, shared that they wanted to complete a big project. Many ideas were tossed around, but when the idea of bringing back the drive-in movie came about, it stuck for two reasons: these young adults had memories of attending drive-in movies plus it would meet their goal of going BIG. In the process of picking up the lost baton, their journey into uncharted waters included raising $75,000, building partnerships with community businesses and organizations, and finding the proper equipment. It was truly humbling and at that point, because life really had come full circle. I was once a YCR member and had this dream nearly 10 years ago. But now these young adults went above and beyond in building McCook’s very own “Cars Under the Stars” non-profit outdoor drive-in theater. This project was a true philanthropic endeavor that not only will last for many years, but leaves a legacy, young or old, that we all play a vital role in our community. The power of community collaboration, teamwork, and dedication pulled off a tremendous feat and now our community has a long-standing asset to enjoy. I encourage everyone to take these philanthropic efforts exemplified by our talented youth and implement them into our communities. Embodying the mission of making our rural Nebraska community a better place to live and call home. Those efforts may not result in fulfilling the entire dream you have, but it may be planting the seed and laying the foundation for someone to pick it up. We all have our blessed talents. What are we doing to help move our community forward? What has someone done before you to help set the stage for you to improve? Is there a lost baton in your community that you can pick up and make better? *** Gavin Harsh is an original member of Youth Change Reaction, the youth organization for the McCook Community Foundation Fund, and now serves as a volunteer member on the MCFF Advisory Committee.