Nominations are now being taken for the 25th annual Heart of Dakota Awards.
The awards, sponsored by The Marshall County Journal and the BrittonArea Foundation, honor individuals, businesses, or groups/organizations from Marshall County and the surrounding area who contribute to their community or provide leadership. Categories for nominations are Agribusiness, Community Involvement, Customer Service, and People’s Choice.
The Agribusiness award is given to individuals or groups that are committed to stewardship as well as development and promotion of agriculture to enhance the community. Community Involvement recognition is given to individuals or organizations that exhibit exceptional leadership performance in support of the community.
Customer Service recognition goes to businesses or individuals who demonstrate exceptional performance in providing service, and the People’s Choice award is a special tribute to unsung individuals who have made a difference in the community through their caring efforts.
An ad appears in this week’s Journal regarding the Heart of Dakota Awards. A nomination form is included with the criteria for each award. Nominators are asked to submit a nomination letter detailing activities and the reason for the nomination.
Area residents and organizations are encouraged to submit nominations for this year’s awards to The Britton Journal, PO Box 69, Britton, SD 57430, or email [email protected]. The nomination deadline is July 31.
Heart of Dakota winners will be honored at the annual Britton Area Chamber of Commerce Fall Social in September.
Following is a list of past Heart of Dakota winners:
1999: Cliff Olson – People’s Choice; Cindy Bremmon (Quarve Drug) – Customer Service; Thea Loy Pallansch – Customer Service; LaVonne Jacobson – Community Involvement 2000: Leonard Eikamp – People’s Choice; Sonia Wolf – Community Involvement; Sara Fisher – Customer Service; Judy Gulleson – Agribusiness 2001: Mary Freudenthal – People’s Choice; Curt Jones – Agribusiness; Jon Frohling – Agribusiness; Patty Roehr – Customer Service; Tom Farber – Community Involvement 2002: Russ Buisker – Agribusiness; MC Ambulance Service – Community Involvement; Eliza Jacobson – Community Involvement; Roger Furman (Lee & Hanson) – Customer Service; Marlene Sell – People’s Choice 2003:CarolGrobe–People’sChoice; Paula Jensen – Community Involvement; Randy Schilling – Customer Service; Lorne Tilberg – Agribusiness 2004: Joan Anderson – Community Involvement; Monty Liknes – Customer Service; Hugh Schilling – People’s Choice 2005: Carol Jones – Community Involvement; Ann Anderson, Mandy Carlson (Prairie Designs) – Customer Service; Roger Tom – People’s Choice; Arlie Bender Family – Agribusiness 2006: Marj Freudenthal – Community Involvement; Marcia Forrester – People’s Choice; Steve Dahlstrom – Agribusiness; The Schott Family (Buhls) – Customer Service 2007: Don Kirkegaard – Community Involvement; Terry Price – Customer Service; John Owen – People’s Choice 2008: Greg & Virgie Schaaf – Community Involvement; Mike Forrester – Agribusiness; Kenny & Dorothy Stillson – People’s Choice; Karen Mikkelson – Customer Service 2009: Ron Jarrett – Community Involvement; Jack Clarke (Ken’s Food Fair) – Customer Service; Mary Zuehlke – People’s Choice 2010: ScottAmundson – Community Involvement; LeRon Knebel – People’s Choice; Dr. Scott Purintun – Customer Service 2011: Norman Carlson – Community Involvement; Diane Hoines – People’s Choice; Britton Public Library Staff (Peggy Satrang, Rhonda Hardina, Bonnie Henricks, Holly Wismer) – Customer Service 2012: Karen DeVine – Community Involvement; Harlan Hilleson/Rose & Mike Kraft – People’s Choice; Vollie Ann Williams – People’s Choice; Stephanie Brandt/Wellness Center - Customer Service 2013: Mike and Mary Dunn – Community Involvement; Cleo Symens – People’s Choice; Carol Anderson – Customer Service; Owen Jones – Agribusiness 2014: DeLores Henehan – Community Involvement; Pat Renner – People’s Choice; Keith Beck – Customer Service 2015: Bryce & Marge Thoelke Community Involvement; Lori Buntrock – People’s Choice; Harland Peterson – Customer Service; Upper Crow Creek Watershed District Board of Managers – Agri-Business 2016: Helen Eikamp - People’s Choice; Mark Nelson - Community Involvement; Coleen Monson and Becky Wegleitner - Customer Service 2017: Kari Feldhuas - Community Involvement; Wanda Franzen - People’s Choice; Marshall County Pantry Shelf – Customer Service; Former Britton Farmers Co-op and Wheat-Dumont Farmers Co-op Elevator Boards – Agribusiness 2018: Cindy Hofland, Glenn & Sande Lehr – Community Involvement; Kay Friebel – People’s Choice; Elaine Steen – Customer Service 2019: Lori Amerman, Sharon Tisher, Richard and Jill Johnson - Community Involvement; Virginia Anderson People’s Choice; Jeani Amacher and Kelsi Heer, Customer Service 2020: Dale Elsen - People’s Choice; Kathy Wegleitner, Customer Service; Claremont Summer Rec Baseball Committee, Community Involvement; MC Healthcare Center/Spruce Court and Wheatcrest Hills, Special Recognition as Community Heroes 2021: Don Erickson and Don Heer, People’s Choice; Karole Chapin and Kim Roehr, Community Involvement; Pam Lunzman and Bill & Jodi Meyer, Customer Service 2022: Vicky Hoines and Shelly Steiner, People’s Choice; Rhonda Wade, Community Involvement; Senior Nutrition (Gail Smith and Helen Nice), Customer Service; Logan Smith, Agribusiness.
