Nearly two dozen business and government leaders from eastern Nebraska will be in Chadron tonight and tomorrow for a special turkey hunt organized by the Nebraska Northwest Development Corporation.
NNDC executive director Deb Cottier says the Pine Ridge Wild Turkey Hunt is intended as a fun, but out of the ordinary event to bring movers-and-shakers to the region for a chance to see for themselves why the northern Panhandle is a good place to locate a business.
The turkey hunt is the successor to the Governor’s Turkey Hunt, which the NNDC hosted in the 1990s but eventually dropped because then-Governor Mike Johanns wasn’t a hunter.
Current Governor Dave Heinemann isn’t either, but Lt Governor Rick Sheehy is and Cottier says both men will be on hand for a get acquainted event tonight, with Sheehy staying the night and hunting tomorrow.
Cottier admits it’s little difficult to point with absolute certainty to definite economic development gains from the turkey hunts of the past, but is convinced there were plenty…starting with personal relationships formed with the visitors.
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