At Dakota Resources, we end the year by honoring the leaders of our rural communities on their many accomplishments in 2024. 

Last month’s Learning Network Gathering Awards Banquet recognized four winners in the following categories: 1) a Local Partner award, for a person or organization that shows immense support for a local economic development organization; 2) Community Innovation, for a community trying something new; 3) the Thriverr award, given to a member who exemplifies the Thriverr principles and culture and is chosen by the Dakota Resources team; and 4) a new Leveling Up award, for economic development organizations realizing a breakthrough in their recent work. 

Here’s the list of winners in 2024. 

Local Partner Award goes to a loving advocate in Murdo

In any community or organization, success is preceded by collaboration and partnership, encouragement and unconditional support. In small towns, work can be divisive, and those intangibles can be difficult to find. But when you have them, what a lucky community indeed. 

Finance officer Krysti Barnes in Murdo exudes those qualities tenfold and hence received the Local Partner Award. She was nominated by colleague Ashley Geigle, Executive Director of Murdo Development Corporation. 

Geigle says Barnes embodies true advocacy and commitment to her community. For the past three years, Geigle has been serving as Murdo’s first-ever economic development director and was supported by Barnes as she figured out her responsibilities and sought funding for her position. Barnes always makes time to be a “guiding light,” Geigle says.

“Krysti is one of my biggest champions,” she says. “I’m so appreciative of her willingness to help.”

Community Innovation prize goes to Murdo for their ambitious tactics

Geigle not only advocates for her colleagues, she takes time to applaud her entire community, too. 

After Geigle’s uplifting nomination for her town, the Murdo Development Corporation was awarded the Community Innovation prize. 

This award recognizes an organization’s innovative approach to community empowerment. This may be a new way to solve an old problem or having the courage to switch things up and go about their work differently than they have before. 

“For years, there’s been a misperception that our community leaders don’t collaborate,” Geigle says. “We are changing that by focusing on events that bring everyone together.”

With a more collaborative mindset, new partnerships have led to an improved after-school program, governor housing planned for next summer, and plans to rebuild Main Street with the city – which could start with something as simple as fresh flowers down the street or a fresh coat of paint on the storefronts, Geigle says. 

“Our vision is a thriving, inclusive community where innovation and well-being drive success,” she says. “We believe that to create for all, we must include all.”

Dakota Resources team chooses a self-taught economic development professional for the Thriverr Award

For this award, the Dakota Resources team personally chose a community member who, like the Thriverr Learning Network, empowers communities, bolsters confidence in community leaders and asks all the right questions. 

The winner of the 2024 Thriverr prize was Colette Mesman, executive director of the Platte Development Corporation. She’s held the position for three years now.

“My work here has been so much more than what I expected,” says Mesman, who also single-handedly leads the Chamber Board of Directors in Platte. “It’s all about how much you want to accomplish, and I want to give as much as I can. I want to take on all the opportunities.”

Mesman says she was once “wet behind the ears” but has since self-initiated tremendously in her role, helming fundraisers, increasing housing options and improving commercial and industrial funds for Platte. She says the ongoing Thriverr gatherings “definitely play a role” in her confidence. 

“I love to get out there and network,” says Mesman, who attends Thriverr events on her own to bring back ideas for her community. She thrives off ambition. “I meet the people, let them fill my cup and keep working hard.”

Centerville honored with new Leveling Up Award

Lastly, for our new Leveling Up Award, we sought an organization who was taking even bigger steps to better their community. 

We were looking for leadership that felt stuck and then pushed themselves to do something about it. Above all, we were looking for a community that has shown significant improvement because they emboldened themselves to do better. 

The Centerville Development Corporation received our Leveling Up Award by welcoming in community members themselves to help reveal the biggest needs and then to organize a group plan to see those needs through. 

“We knew the answers to whatever was next for our community didn’t exclusively lie within our organization to decide on our own,” says Jared Hybertson, executive director for the Centerville Development Corporation and president of the local Chamber of Commerce. He nominated Centerville for the Leveling Up Award. 

“We needed to give the community a voice and a seat at the table,” he says. 

Since working with Dakota Resources to host a large community engagement gathering earlier this year, Hybertson says the 75 participants assigned themselves five action items to accomplish over the next three years: a wellness center, a car wash, an events space, more dining options and more trees downtown.

“Most importantly, we now have a vision, good community buy-in and some great volunteers involved in these efforts that our organization can encourage and support,” Hybertson says of the volunteer-based committees per action item. “I am very proud of the positive impact our organization has helped to make.”