Paxton to be honored with Friend Award

Small Towns
Contact(s)

Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, [email protected], 402.687.2100 ext 1025

LYONS, NEBRASKA – The Center for Rural Affairs has chosen Darby Paxton, of Stuart, Nebraska, to receive its 2018 Friend Award. Center staff will recognize Paxton at an award ceremony on March 8 in York, Nebraska.

The Friend Award is presented annually to an individual, organization, or institution that provides invaluable service to entrepreneurs by assisting Center staff in offering small business technical assistance, business training, loans, and networking across rural Nebraska.

Paxton is the Holt County Economic Development director and has served in that role since 2016.

“Darby brings a great deal of passion and desire to aid and serve the residents of all communities in Holt County,” said Gene Rahn, senior loan specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs. “His reach and desire to serve includes participating and working with regional and statewide groups reaching beyond just Holt County.”

Holt County Economic Development and the Center have partnered on numerous workshops in different communities, such as QuickBooks trainings and online marketing sessions.

“When there is a need, Darby refers potential clients to the Center,” Rahn said. “The office has and continues to operate at a high level of expertise and service. Everything combined is what makes Darby a true friend of the Center.”

Paxton grew up on a ranch near Stuart, and moved back to the area with his wife in 2005. He served as a stay-at-home dad to five boys for 11 years before taking on the role of economic development director. In those 11 years, he was involved in the fire department, becoming an emergency medical technician; was a member of the Housing Rehabilitation Board; helped bring a movie theater to Stuart; and served on his church’s parish council.

 

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.

Center for Rural Affairs receives funding from the Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Business and Innovation Act through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, U.S. Department of Treasury, Peter Kiewit Foundation, and other sources. Women’s Business Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All Small Business Administration funded programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or persons with limited English proficiency will be made if requested in advance. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.