Pride of the Plains

When I travel the highways and byways of the Golden Plains of America, my heart swells with pride.

There’s a special, free spirit out here in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, that is shown each day as friends and neighbors from all across the area connect at sales, sporting events, community celebrations and shopping excursions.

Part of the shared sense of togetherness -- I believe -- is the result of us being surrounded by miles and miles of wide open spaces. There’s not a lot of folks around here -- compared to many other places in the U.S.A. -- so when we do get to see each other, it’s a special treat and we show it with hugs, handshakes and “old home week” kinds of conversations.

I was especially proud of the people of the Golden Plains when Jack Stevens and I traveled to Wauneta to join the movers and shakers who are spearheading plans for the 2019 Nebraska Cattleman’s Ball. The ball is one of Nebraska’s most special gatherings, with more than 4,000 supporters of the state’s nation-leading cattle industry joining together to raise close to -- sometimes more than -- a million dollars to help in the battle against cancer and to give an assist to worthy causes in the southwest area.

The thing that immediately struck me when I walked into the door of the senior center in Wauneta -- where the strategy session for the cattleman’s ball took place -- was that there were folks there from all over the western half of the area, including a number from Chase, Dundy, Hayes, and Hitchcock counties who have taken on leadership, sponsorship and special committee responsibilities for the ball.

The esprit de corps is especially encouraging because -- after being passed over for nearly a score of years -- the southwest section of Nebraska is finally getting a chance to show our stuff.

Because of this, I was really happy when I heard the Southwest Nebraska Leadership Institute jump on board at their meeting earlier this month at McCook Community College, with members of the institute pledging to give their full support to spreading the word throughout the area. Now, hopefully, other organizations, businesses and individuals -- young and old -- will pitch in to help.

As big as the Cattleman’s Ball will be, an even more huge event is coming down the pike for those of us who call the Golden Plains home. I’m talking about the 150th anniversary of the Massacre Canyon battle, which will take place on August 5, 2023.

Yes, I realize that’s 1,719 days away, but because of the tremendous historical importance of the last great Indian battle on American soil -- which took place in the canyons around the Republican River Valley -- east of Trenton and west of Culbertson on August 5, 1873 -- we need to get rolling soon on the planning of an observance which will properly celebrate the magnitude of the historical battle.

This battle -- which took place in our midst -- was the last battle/massacre between Great Plains Indians in North America. That’s a big deal. And -- as residents of the Golden Plains of America -- we are obligated to pitch in -- just as we are doing for the Cattleman’s Ball -- to show the world what a specia place Southwest Nebraska -- in close harmony with Northwest Kansas -- is.