Four inductions will be made into the Dawes County Agricultural Hall of Fame at 2 p.m. Sunday (July 28) in the Grandstand at the Fairgrounds in Chadron. The program will be open to the public without charge.
Two of the Hall of Fame honorees have similar names. They are Butler Ag Equipment of Chadron and the Butler Professional Horseshoeing School, located about 20 miles east of Crawford near Squaw Mound. Both are flourishing businesses that bring numerous clients to the county and both are proud of their customer satisfaction.
The other inductees are ranch families who have lived in the county for many years. That’s particularly true of the Dodds. The first of them arrived in 1886, the same year Crawford was founded. Kalvin, who is a fourth generation Dodd in the county, will receive the Hall of Fame plaque. His headquarters are just a couple of miles north of Crawford.
Lee and Cindy Ahrens also will be recognized. The Ahrens arrived nearly 100 years ago. They have lived in the Highland Center community longer than any of the current families. Their ranch is about 30 miles south of Chadron and 20 miles north of Hemingford.
Also during Sunday’s program, Dawes County Good Neighbors Awards will be presented to Lola Rinker, Mike Bartels and Scott and Joni Roberts. In addition, Scott Littlejohn will receive the Fair Person of the Year Awards. Also known as the Extra Miler Award.