Tourism industry recognized
Northwest Nebraska professionals were recognized for their contributions to the tourism industry April 3 during the annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest event at the Dawes County Fairgrounds.
Chadron State Park, the Dawes County Historical Museum Volunteers and Irene Hughes of Q’s Dairy Sweet in Crawford won the three awards presented.
“I’d like to congratulate each of our winners and all of our nominees,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “The tourism industry supports more than 200 jobs and is a leading industry in economic impact for the region. It’s important we recognize the efforts of those making Northwest Nebraska a great place to live and visit.”
Chadron State Park was honored as the Business/Attraction of the Year. Their nomination referenced the park’s natural beauty and the staff’s dedication to exceptional service, community engagement and sustainability to elevate the visitor experience. Educational workshops, nature hikes and array of other programs, along with an emphasis on accessibility and partnerships with local businesses and organizations enhances the tourist experience and stimulates local economic growth. The other nominee in the Business/Attraction category was Runza.
The Dawes County Historical Museum volunteers received the Volunteer of the Year award as a group. The museum had more than 1,000 visitors from May – September 2024, from 67 Nebraska communities and 40 states. Programs include service canines, frontier school days, the Garden Party, Business After Hours and History in Action Day with 350 in attendance and two Wall of Fame inductions. The museum is run entirely by volunteers. Two museum volunteers – Suze Jones and Phyllis Carlson – were also nominated in the category as individuals, along with a nomination for George Ledbetter with the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association.
Finally, Irene Hughes of Q’s Dairy Sweet in Crawford was awarded the Frontline Employee of the Year. Her nomination noted that Q’s is a great place to stop and find out what’s going on in the area, and that each employee is friendly, pleasant and accommodating. Open 7 days a week, Irene offers up the best breakfast burritos, a welcoming local dining option for all meals and information on how to further explore the region. Also nominated in the category were Debbon Shields of Chadron State Park and Ashy Blacksheep of the Crawford Public Library.
In addition to the award presentations, nearly 70 people in the tourism industry participated in a brochure exchange and shared industry updates at the event. Caitlin Roes, the Extension Educator for Rural Prosperity Nebraska in the Northern Panhandle, served as the keynote speaker, sharing information on the agency’s Red Carpet Customer Service and the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference in North Platte later this month.
“Treasure Chest is always a fun night as industry professionals network with each other and learn more about what they offer and what is available through Discover Northwest Nebraska and other agencies,” Rempp said. “Nominations for the awards that will be presented in 2026 are now open and can be submitted online at https://discovernwnebraska.com/industry-awards/ through March 1, 2026.”
The Treasure Chest annual event is co-sponsored by Discover Northwest Nebraska, the Chadron Chamber of Commerce and Chadrad Communications. It is held each April and is open to anyone working in the tourism industry in Dawes and Sioux Counties.
