At 2,057 feet above sea level, Happy Jack Peak just south of Scotia, Nebraska, offers an unparalleled view of the North Loup River Valley. To the east, past Highway 11, the land abutting the meandering river erupts in a blanket of green grasses, crops, and trees. The view from any direction is one of abundance.
Looking northwest from the summit of that wildflower-carpeted white chalk bluff, hikers can see Valley County, where the landscape complements the drive of its 4,073 inhabitants. The community bursts at the seams with creativity and positivity. For them, it’s not a matter of whether they can do something, but how they can get it done.
Residents like Jeana and Tanner Hackel try to embody that optimistic spirit every day in their personal, professional, and community work.
“You work with what’s in front of you to do something that’s challenging,” Jeana said. “You do it with all your heart and do it well.”
Valley County Community Foundation Fund (VCCFF) has been a key player in this resilient community, with its members helping the county’s renowned entrepreneurial ecosystem thrive; nurturing the local arts community; and investing in leadership and leadership succession. It all started with a generous bequest by a local couple, John and Alyce Wozab. That snowballed into dozens of new opportunities and experiments, among them HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC)—a community development framework that focused on four pillars: leadership, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and youth engagement.
Jeana and Tanner also credit SynoVation Valley Leadership Academy (SVLA)—an Ord-based leadership development program—with helping locals discover different ways to live and lead that prioritize connectedness, community, and innovation. This thoughtfulness touches everything they do. Both now serve on the SVLA board.
Central to VCCFF’s continued success is the members’ dedication to intergenerational cooperation. Those who led the early charge, such as Honorary NCF Board member Bob Stowell, enthusiastically extend invitations to younger residents. New ideas are encouraged, and failure is just an opportunity to try again. That mindset creates a culture where people aren’t afraid to bring their voice to the conversation.
“As much as we don’t like failing, it is a healthy part of our existence,” Tanner said. “This is the way we grow and learn.”
Nebraska Community Foundation often celebrates Valley County and its family of affiliated funds—including NCF’s largest hospital fund, the Valley County Health System Foundation Fund—as a beacon of how communities can identify and supercharge their assets to create their own unique brand of success. It’s an honor residents are proud to bear, but volunteers know they are still climbing their own mountain at their own pace. As long as they keep extending invitations, allow people to dream big, and build on their $3.2 million unrestricted endowment, they know they’ll reach the summit.
“There’s so much abundance,” Jeana said. “We get to see it flow around.”
