Nominations are now being taken for the 26th annual Heart of Dakota Awards.
The awards, sponsored by The Marshall County Journal, the Britton Area Chamber and the Britton Area 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. Nomination information is included with the criteria for each award. Nominators are asked to fill out the online form at https://forms.gle/puwkuvZ2BSVVhqqbA with nominee contact info and the reason for the nomination.
People can also email [email protected] or mail nominations to The Marshall County Journal, PO Box 69, Britton, SD 57430. Make sure to include the category of the nomination. The nomination deadline is August 9.
Heart of Dakota winners will be featured in a story and honored at a reception 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: Carol Grobe – People’s Choice; 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: Scott Amundson – 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.
2023: Jill Zuehlke - Community Involvement; Cari Price - People’s Choice; Lisa Kann - Customer Service; Keith, Kent and Karsen Holland of Holland Bros. Oil - Agribusiness.
