CHADRON – Fifty-two job sites were served by Chadron State College students and employee volunteers during the 11th annual The Big Event (TBE) Saturday.

TBE Graduate Assistant Kinsey Smith said the event was a success.

“We had so many people show up to job sites in our community. We had such a great time getting to group people up with others they normally wouldn't be with. So, I think a lot of friendships and relationships with the community were created.”

Lorna Eliason, director of Chadron Public Schools After-School Program, said TBE volunteers have served at the Chadron Intermediate School gardens for a number of years.

“This helps prep the gardens for our students to plant, learn more about science, and how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. The CSC volunteers are a huge help. Our third and fourth graders couldn't do all the work that these young adults do,” Eliason said. “Plus, many of these CSC students are going to be educators, so I think it gives them an idea of how they could use a learning, living classroom. You can do tree and plant identification, and you can learn about healthy eating. Older students still ask me about the school garden.”

CSC men’s basketball coaching assistant Eric Stamps worked with student-athletes at the Dawes County Historical Society Museum.

“The guys were able to see the old schoolhouse and the farm equipment from long time ago. It helps their diversity and their growth as young men. It’s an opportunity to expand their knowledge. They can see the changes from when there was a small desk to now where you have computers and technology. It's an awesome experience, especially for me as a former teacher,” Stamps said.

Curator of the museum Phyllis Carlson said TBE volunteers have helped for about six years. She enjoys asking the students from out-of-state what they think of Nebraska.

“We enjoy their work, and it does help because we have so much that needs to be dusted. It would take a good week or more for a couple of us to do it,” Carlson said. “I hope they keep the program going for a long time. It’s wonderful and we praise CSC.”

Community resident Brenda Bump said she appreciates the work the students accomplish.

“They are efficient. Last year was interesting because I ended up with the whole football team. When you're getting older you just can't do it all. This is a great way to meet the students, learn where they're from, what they're studying, and why they're here,” Bump said.

TBE volunteers moved furniture stored in a basement for community residents George and Emily Klein.

“We were so fortunate to have The Big Event accept us as a job site. Four wrestlers went down there, carried all those things up, and loaded them on a city truck. They were done in 15 or 20 minutes. That would have been a day-long job for George and me and then we'd have been hurting for a few more days. It was wonderful. We are so appreciative.”

Students meet business leaders in Broken Bow

CHADRON – In late March, Chadron State College students in the Rural Business Leadership Initiative (RBLI) and Business Academy, as well as Instructor Dr. Caitlin Redden and Graduate Assistant Clark Riesen visited Broken Bow, Nebraska, to meet with rural business and community leaders.

The students who visited include Concey Bader of Palmer, Neb., Janessa Carley and Jeremy Carley of Dalton, Neb., Dan Dunbar of Chadron , Phillip Soto of Scottsbluff, Neb., Zane Zilverberg Holabird, S.D., and Allison Schneider of Lincoln, Neb.

Redden said the RBLI faculty members hope to provide visits to vibrant, thriving communities like Broken Bow that exhibit the business opportunities available in rural areas.

“Students were able to tour several small and large organizations, hear stories about business owners’ entrepreneurial ventures, and network with several community leaders and alumni in Broken Bow,” Redden said.

Zilverberg, a Business Administration major with an emphasis in Marketing, plans to pursue a career in product and land sales.

During the trip, he was impressed with business leaders who discussed their work.

“They are making an impact in their community and ultimately, on a national and international scale. Some offered considerable advice and a chance to work with them in future endeavors, Zilverberg said. “I was impressed by the type of operations. Some of which I previously would not have imagined operating in the area due to a smaller population. However, their results illustrate the ability and work ethic of the men and women in the rural Great Plains region.”

Although Zilverberg, who will graduate in May 2024, has traveled internationally and across the U.S., he enjoyed the combination of a friendly atmosphere and high level of services.

“I noticed principles we’ve studied in the classroom being applied in real-world settings ranging from communication and management skills in the office and work environment, all the way to planning the growth of the local community through infrastructure projects and creating business opportunities for existing and future residents,” Zilverberg said.

He took particular interest in the Sandhills Task Force presentation by Shelly Kelly and Cody Trump.

“They offered their keen insight and experiences working with local ranchers to enhance the Sandhills ecosystem and profitable private ranching. I believe the work they do will benefit wildlife, vegetation, and ranchers for generations to come,” Zilverberg said.

Soto is majoring in Business Administration with options in Finance, Agribusiness, and Management. He will graduate in May 2023 and plans to work for Farm Service Agency as a farm loan officer trainee.

He found many benefits from the time the group spent in Broken Bow.

“They have a wide variety of career opportunities. We had the opportunity to talk to business owners, presidents of companies, and other employees of businesses. They explained the importance of working hard and how it can lead to success. Networking and developing relationships with other business professionals is essential,” he said.

Soto said he could see principles from his management courses in real-world settings.

“Many of the individuals we conversed with talked about how they manage their businesses, as well as their employees. They specified the importance of employees being the largest asset of a business,” Soto said.

The stop at Adams Land & Cattle was particularly interesting for Soto.

“They have grown substantially and utilize technology to run their operation as efficiently as possible,” he said.

Janessa Carley earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from CSC in May 2022. She will earn an MBA in December 2023 and plans to become a Certified Public Accountant.

She observed that building connections with competing businesses is important for all involved.

“Active participation in a rural community can be beneficial, not only for your business, but for you individually because building connections improves all aspects of your life,” Carley said.

Like Zilverberg, Carley was impressed with the Sandhills Task Force, although her focus was on processes for budgeting and grant requests to expand housing and childcare. At Becton Dickinson Vacutainer Systems, she enjoyed seeing the manufacturing and inventory process.

“This trip reinforced why I want to live and give back to a rural community as a business leader and citizen. It also helped me put into perspective what it truly takes to build and sustain a thriving business in a rural community,” Carley said.