Chadron State Park is this year’s Northwest Nebraska Tourism Business/Attraction of the Year, Carrie Frahm of Perk Up Java in Crawford is the Frontline Employee of the Year, and Randy Kane of the Museum of the Fur Trade Volunteer of the Year.
The awards were presented last Thursday at the 4th-annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest tourism conference and workshop in Chadron, attended by more than 80 industry members.
This is the second year for the awards and Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp says one of the region’s greatest assets is its people, with the awards a way to recognize those who make it “an enjoyable experience to visit the region.”
Rempp says the winners and all the other nominees “go above and beyond every day, making them tremendous mentors to those around them as we seek to grow the industry.”
Nebraska’s first state park, established in 1921, Chadron State Park attracts over 400,000 visitors a year, providing a significant year-round economic impact to the community.
Randy Kane is a retired National Park Service historian who engages visitors to the Museum of the Fur Trade both about the history of the region and the many Northwest Nebraska historical events.
As Frontline Employee of the Year, Carrie Frahm was cited for making everyone who comes into Perk Up Java feel welcome and for sharing information with them on what there is to see and do in the area.
Other nominees this year were Runza, Wild’s Bar and Grill staffers Cody Kronhofman and Willow Davies of Wild’s Bar in Chadron, and Chadron State Park office manager Debbon Shields
Nominations are already being taken for next year’s Northwest Nebraska tourism awards. Submit them online at discovernwnebraska.com/industry-awards