Burwell & Taylor
Known as the place where the "Wild West meets the 21st Century," Burwell, Nebraska residents strive to find balance between growing and progressing while remembering their history and rural ways of life. Burwell has a gorgeous backdrop, the Calamus Reservoir, which offers many opportunities to attract tourists, campers, and nature lovers alike. Known nationally to those in the rodeo circuit, Burwell is home to Nebraska's "Big Rodeo," which draws huge crowds of followers for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
In the summer of 2005 pioneering Burwell residents joined efforts with the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative to help pilot a new program in youth and community development called Dialogues Across Nebraska (DAN). The goal of the program is to encourage dialogue through an intergenerational approach which promotes the exchange of ideas and discussion from everyone in the community. DAN is a tool the community of Burwell can use in the future.
Two student interns with the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative worked with adult partners and youth leaders to prepare for the dialogue event. The process included building community capacity by training youth leadership teams and adult partners. Youth leaders were an important link in the dialogue process, and their newly developed skills help to build a strong foundation for the community. The youth leadership team was trained how to facilitate the dialogue event. Members of the youth and adult leadership teams are a great resource to the community of Burwell because they are prepared to facilitate dialogues in the future.
Members of the leadership team are responsible for rallying support throughout the community in order for the dialogue to be successful. The leadership team invited 16 community volunteers from Burwell to share their support for the dialogue process by taking part in the 3-hour event. The volunteers participated in the dialogue by talking within their own generations as well as in intergenerational groups. Dialogue encouraged the exchange of ideas that can lead to positive action in a community. Community sponsors gave their support by providing resources for the meal.
Burwell volunteers saw their community positively for its association with the Rodeo, the Calamus, and its small town lifestyle. Volunteers agreed Burwell is a great place to live and come back to.
In the summer of 2006, Taylor joined her sister city in hosting another dialogue. Taylor was founded in 1883. Joseph Rusho was the first to settle in Taylor, is considered the "Father of Taylor," and was the leader of Loup County politics. Taylor started as the only community in Loup County, and once again it is now the only town located in Loup County. Taylor is home to multiple agricultural and automotive businesses, three churches and Loup County School, the only school in the county.
The joint Burwell-Taylor dialogue brought these two towns together to help find solutions to common problems. After all, "two heads are better than one," and these two communities have proved that axiom. The DAN team will continue to offer support to these communities as they continue to work together for a successful future.
- Adult Partners
Janet Hanna
Ruby Plock
Sandra Mann
Abby Snell
- Youth Leadership Team
Emily Plock
Rachelle Plock
Kirsty Dunbar
Grant Galvin
Lanae Maxson
Ashley McMullen
Joel Holmquist
Andrea Seidel
Shelby Koncel-Brown
Hannah Dilsaver
- Student Interns
Jill Goetz
Matt Habrock
Coleman Outhet
Greg Schwanke
Kyla Wize
- Community Sponsors
4-H Extension
- Rural Initiative Support
Dr. Sandra Sattler Weber, Director of DAN
- Photo Gallery
