By Discover Northwest Nebraska
CHADRON, Neb. – Leaders in the Northwest Nebraska tourism industry were recognized April 16 during the annual Treasure Chest industry event at the Dawes County Fairgrounds.
“The regional tourism industry offers outdoor recreational opportunities, along with historical and cultural assets that make Northwest Nebraska a great place to live and visit,” Rempp said. “Beyond that, more importantly, are the people who contribute to the industry in a myriad of ways. Our business owners, managers, event organizers, volunteers and frontline workers help create memorable experiences for visitors and residents alike and all of them deserve recognition.”
Jackson Griess was presented with the Frontline Employee of the Year award. As a lead manager at Runza, Griess goes above and beyond to ensure customers at his store receive high quality customer service. His staff follows his lead to make sure visitors to Northwest Nebraska experience one of the state’s favorite foods.
The Crawford Public Library, headed by librarian Ashy Blacksheep, was honored with the Business/Attraction of the Year Award. The library houses a variety of resources for visitors to dive into and regularly hosts speakers discussing topics such as local history or local authors.
Dave and Ali Redden were the winners of the Volunteer of the Year category. The couple is heavily involved in the production of the annual Crawford Cattle Call each November. Ali serves on the Post Playhouse board of directors, helping to oversee five musicals each year that are seen by more than 12,000 visitors. Dave supports the Playhouse in his role backstage as he hauls equipment and props back and forth from storage, and he also serves as an EMT, serving residents and visitors.
The Western Nebraska Sportsman’s Expo & Nebraska Fur Harvesters convention received the inaugural Event of the Year award. The show brought 600-800 people to Northwest Nebraska from across the country, many of whom extended their stay beyond the convention dates to explore the region. The event resulted in more than 60 rooms at one hotel being booked, with other attendees staying at the two state parks and other lodging establishments. In addition, the event highlighted the Museum of the Fur Trade and the Chadron State College High Plains Wildlife Collection to visitors.
Other nominees for this year’s awards included Sharon Rickenbach and her Harvest Host site, the Chadron Festival of Quilts, the Northwest Motor Show, the Chadron State College Rodeo and the Fort Robinson Trail Ride.
In addition to the awards, more than 90 individuals took advantage of networking opportunities during the event and heard from speakers representing the Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition, the Nebraska Travel Association and Visit Nebraska.
Two new events – Panhandle Frontier Finds June 5-7 and the Vietnam Wall & Cost of Freedom Tribute Sept. 8-12 were showcased. Several events in the region are also celebrating significant anniversaries in 2026, and organizers had a chance to share information about their plans. Those included:
- Crawford Rock Swap – 40 years
- Fur Trade Days – 50 years
- Sioux County Historical Museum & Coffee Park – 50 years
- Trailside Museum of Natural History – 65 years
- Old West Trail Rodeo – 80 years
- City of Crawford – 140 years
- Dawes County Fair – 140 years
Post Playhouse will mark 60 years in 2027 and announced that it is in the planning stages for a big celebration next year.
“There are exciting things taking place in the Northwest Nebraska tourism industry, and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate these achievements,” said Rempp.