The goal of any small town is to retain its young people; to encourage high school graduates to either enter the workforce or obtain their education and return to their hometown to implement their new skill or trade. That is exactly what Lucy Kimball has done.

Lucy is a 2018 graduate of Callaway High School and the daughter of Duane and Carla Kimball. Following high school she attended the University of Nebraska- Lincoln where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in hospitality management with a minor in the Engler Entrepreneurship program and a minor in agronomy. She also has a leadership communications minor.

“It was a lot, but it’s all good,” she laughed. Upon completing her college studies she returned home to Callaway, and now works at Mac’s Creek Winery. “I do a little bit of everything there,” she explained. While in college Lucy worked in the tasting room of the winery, and she now works full-time with the wine production and in the vineyards. She also serves as tasting room manager. “So I really do see all sides of the business,” she added.

Lucy said she always knew she would return to Custer County after college. “I love Callaway, and I love the small-town feel,” she shared. “There’s just something about Callaway that has always had a pull on me.”

Lucy has been selected for the LEAD program. LEAD fellows are either nominated by someone else or prospective fellows can apply for a spot in the class. Applications are completed in June and interviews are done in July, with the LEAD Board making the final decision on who gets accepted into the class. The maximum for a class is 30.

“They want you to be working in some sort of ag field. In our class, we have people in all sides of ag, but the grape and vineyard is pretty unusual,” she

cont. PAGE 3 - Leader said. “The mission of the LEAD program is to prepare and motivate men and women in agriculture for more effective leadership. My dad actually went to the program when I was younger and he put it in my ear that it would be really good for me. I just wanted that continued education, because I feel like after college it’s harder to find that. Being able to actively engage in something that continues to educate you after college was huge for me.”

Lucy lives in Callaway and commutes to Mac’s Creek near Lexington to work. She said she sees herself remaining in this industry long-term, and has her own vineyard in Callaway. “Maybe one day we’ll have some harvest, it if stops hailing,” she said with a giggle. “But Mother Nature has had other plans for me recently.”

“We have a seminar about once a month for the next two years where we are all over Nebraska learning from farmers, ag leaders and other people/ industries that have a direct impact on the ag industry,” Lucy said as she explained what the program looks like once you are accepted. “We will also go to DC at some point, and our last year, we will go to an international seminar. We won't find out where we will be headed for the international seminar until this time next year.”

Lucy has also gotten active in her hometown, coaching the cheerleaders at Callaway and Arnold high schools, and serves on the Callaway Foundation Board.

She understands the importance of retaining young people to keep rural communities alive and thriving and offered this advice to high school students. “It’s about finding what you are passionate about. I’ve been passionate about the wine industry for a while, and knowing that is something that could impact our community and the future if we were to have a winery here would just help our community. Find that passion and know that you can probably make it work wherever you are. And if you want to come back to Callaway there are probably opportunities for you to do that.”