Name: Brianne Kuhr
Hometown: Leigh
Affiliated Fund: Leigh Legacy Fund
School: Wayne State College
What does it feel like to be back in your hometown this summer?
I enjoy spending time back in Leigh because there are many familiar faces. It is always nice to be in a place where you know that you can ask for help, and everyone is supportive of you. I love this community because there is a sense of unity. All the organizations and people here want to work together to improve Leigh.
What are some of your hometown’s greatest assets?
A few of my hometown’s greatest assets are the Maple Creek Recreation Area, Leigh Community Schools, Club 91 Golf Course, and Centennial Park.
What about the NCF Internship experience stands out to you so far? Why?
The NCF Internship has inspired me more than I could imagine. NCF cultivates a positive atmosphere where they want to hear what interns and youth are thinking about their communities and Nebraska. I loved meeting all the other interns and listening to them talk about their hometowns. They had a sparkle in their eyes when they were talking about their communities, and I was so glad to meet other people who care about their communities as well.
Everyone has gifts and talents to share. What do you hope to share with your hometown this summer?
I really enjoy art and gardening. They are just a couple of things that I love to do, and I am hoping to channel that with my project of creating a mural and doing some landscaping at the park. I am also working with the Nebraska Public Power District to create a guide about our community. This guide will have everything that new residents and current residents would have to know. I hope that this guide takes stress away from new residents in Leigh and encourages them to plant their roots in a small town.
What should older adults know about your generation of Nebraskans?
From what I have seen with other interns and within the NCF network, our generation cares about our small communities. We want to return to our small communities someday, but we also know that there is always going to be work that needs to be done. I have seen that within my own generation in Leigh; people my age have incredible work ethics, and they are not afraid to commit to a project that will better the community.
How does belonging play a role in your attachment to your hometown?
Belonging plays a role in my attachment to my hometown because I feel wanted. I feel that the community of Leigh wants as many people as possible to live here. I have never felt like a burden to my community because everyone is so supportive. For instance, all of the community members were supportive of my extra-curricular activities in high school. Now, they are supportive of me with this internship. They want to help my generation make a difference, and it is inspiring that the community wants to support our youth.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future of your community?
I hope that our community continues to work together and support local businesses and our school. A dream of mine for the future of my community is to one day have more businesses along main street. We have many people who want to live in Leigh, and I hope that more businesses will be able to find their home in Leigh.
What are you looking for in a place to call home?
I would want to live somewhere that I feel safe and welcomed. I would want to know my neighbors and be familiar with them. If I had a family, then I would also want to make sure that the school in the area is offering a quality education. I would want children in the area to become the best versions of themselves, and I full-heartedly believe that starts in schools.
If you were designing a future for yourself in Greater Nebraska, what would that look like?
In an ideal world, I would be a business owner in my small town. Many people in my community live in Leigh and commute to larger towns like Norfolk and Columbus for work. I would love to own a local business, so I would not have to drive thirty minutes or more to work every day.
What’s a piece of advice you have for older generations of Nebraskans?
My piece of advice would be to teach my generation about community involvement, but the older generation should also let us be involved. Every person my age has their own talents and skills that they can offer to the community. I enjoy helping others and bettering the community; I do not see it as a chore. I want to be included in the community. I feel that deep down that is what most people want; that is the Nebraska way.
I enjoy helping others and bettering the community; I do not see it as a chore. I want to be included in the community. I feel that deep down that is what most people want; that is the Nebraska way. – Brianne Kuhr
