Nominations are now being taken for the 28th annual Heart of Dakota Awards. The awards, sponsored by The Marshall County Journal, the Britton Area Chamber and the Britton Area Foundation, honor individuals, businesses, or groups/organizations from Marshall County and the surrounding area who contribute to their community or provide leadership. Categories for nominations are Agribusiness, Community Involvement, Customer Service, and People’s Choice.
The Agribusiness award is given to individuals or groups that are committed to stewardship as well as development and promotion of agriculture to enhance the community. Community Involvement recognition is given to individuals or organizations that exhibit exceptional leadership performance in support of the community.
Customer Service recognition goes to businesses or individuals who demonstrate exceptional performance in providing service, and the People’s Choice award is a special tribute to unsung individuals who have made a difference in the community through their caring efforts.
Nominators are asked to fill out the online form at https://forms.gle/LoEbfaCs2SKqreto7 with nominee contact info and the reason for the nomination.
People can also email [email protected] or mail nominations to The Marshall County Journal, PO Box 69, Britton, SD 57430. Make sure to include the category of the nomination. The nomination deadline is August 17.
Heart of Dakota winners will be featured in a story and honored at a reception in September.
Following is a list of past Heart of Dakota winners:
1999: People’s Choice – Cliff Olson; Community Involvement – LaVonne Jacobson; Customer Service – Cindy Bremmon (Quarve Drug), Thea Loy Pallansch.
2000: People’s Choice – Leonard Eikamp; Community Involvement – Sonia Wolf; Customer Service – Sara Fisher; Agribusiness – Judy Gulleson.
2001: People’s Choice – Mary Freudenthal; Community Involvement – Tom Farber; Customer Service – Patty Roehr; Agribusiness – Curt Jones, Jon Frohling.
2002: People’s Choice – Marlene Sell; Community Involvement – Marshall County Ambulance Service, Eliza Jacobson; Customer Service – Roger Furman (Lee & Hanson); Agribusiness – Russ Buisker.
2003: People’s Choice – Carol Grobe; Community Involvement – Paula Jensen; Customer Service – Randy Schilling; Agribusiness – Lorne Tilberg.
2004: People’s Choice – Hugh Schilling; Community Involvement – Joan Anderson; Customer Service – Monty Liknes.
2005: People’s Choice – Roger Tom; Community Involvement – Carol Jones; Customer Service – Ann Anderson, Mandy Carlson (Prairie Designs); Agribusiness – Arlie Bender Family.
2006: People’s Choice – Marcia Forrester; Community Involvement – Marj Freudenthal; Customer Service – The Schott Family (Buhls); Agribusiness – Steve Dahlstrom.
2007: People’s Choice – John Owen; Community Involvement – Don Kirkegaard; Customer Service – Terry Price.
2008: People’s Choice – Kenny & Dorothy Stillson; Community Involvement – Greg & Virgie Schaaf; Customer Service – Karen Mikkelson; Agribusiness – Mike Forrester.
2009: People’s Choice – Mary Zuehlke; Community Involvement – Ron Jarrett; Customer Service – Jack Clarke (Ken’s Food Fair).
2010: People’s Choice – LeRon Knebel; Community Involvement – Scott Amundson; Customer Service – Dr. Scott Purintun.
2011: People’s Choice – Diane Hoines; Community Involvement – Norman Carlson; Customer Service – Britton Public Library Staff (Peggy Satrang, Rhonda Hardina, Bonnie Henricks, Holly Wismer).
2012: People’s Choice – Harlan Hilleson, Rose & Mike Kraft, Vollie Ann Williams; Community Involvement – Karen DeVine; Customer Service – Stephanie Brandt (Wellness Center).
2013: People’s Choice – Cleo Symens; Community Involvement – Mike and Mary Dunn; Customer Service – Carol Anderson; Agribusiness – Owen Jones.
2014: People’s Choice – Pat Renner; Community Involvement – DeLores Henehan; Customer Service – Keith Beck.
2015: People’s Choice – Lori Buntrock; Community Involvement – Bryce & Marge Thoelke; Customer Service – Harland Peterson; Agribusiness – Upper Crow Creek Watershed District Board of Managers.
2016: People’s Choice – Helen Eikamp; Community Involvement – Mark Nelson; Customer Service – Coleen Monson and Becky Wegleitner.
2017: People’s Choice – Wanda Franzen; Community Involvement – Kari Feldhaus; Customer Service – Marshall County Pantry Shelf; Agribusiness – Former Britton Farmers Co-op and Wheat-Dumont Farmers Co-op Elevator Boards.
2018: People’s Choice – Kay Friebel; Community Involvement – Cindy Hofland, Glenn & Sande Lehr; Customer Service – Elaine Steen.
2019: People’s Choice – Virginia Anderson; Community Involvement – Lori Amerman, Sharon Tisher, Richard and Jill Johnson; Customer Service – Jeani Amacher and Kelsi Heer.
2020: People’s Choice – Dale Elsen; Community Involvement – Claremont Summer Rec Baseball Committee; Customer Service – Kathy Wegleitner; Special Recognition (Community Heroes) – Marshall County Healthcare Center/Spruce Court and Wheatcrest Hills.
2021: People’s Choice – Don Erickson and Don Heer; Community Involvement – Karole Chapin and Kim Roehr; Customer Service – Pam Lunzman and Bill & Jodi Meyer.
2022: People’s Choice – Vicky Hoines and Shelly Steiner; Community Involvement – Rhonda Wade; Customer Service – Senior Nutrition (Gail Smith and Helen Nice); Agribusiness – Logan Smith.
2023: People’s Choice – Cari Price; Community Involvement – Jill Zuehlke; Customer Service – Lisa Kann; Agribusiness – Keith, Kent and Karsen Holland (Holland Bros. Oil).
2024: People’s Choice – Angie Olson, Linda and David Deutsch; Community Involvement – Kelsi Heer; Customer Service – Robyn Sporhase.
2025: People’s Choice – Deb and Norman Mack; Community Involvement – Preston Kilker, B.J. Richter and Adam Suther; Customer Service – Jean Fagerland, Laura Kronbach; Agribusiness – Wayne Foote.
