Business and Citizen of the Year

The stakes are high for the 13th Annual Community Banquet celebrating the Citizen and Business of the Year, sponsored by the Moorcroft Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC). This year’s theme is based on the Kentucky Derby as we “Run for the Roses”, with Voy Cox bringing the race to life.

The public is invited to this community event taking place Saturday, October 10 at the Moorcroft Town Center Library Paddock. Please enter through the west gate of the building and the double doors of the gymnasium and then proceed left to the library field.

Post will begin with the social hour starting at 6 p.m. with cash bar and background music. A prime rib dinner follows at 7 p.m. and then the awards ceremony will commence in the infield, at which time Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year will be announced.

And they’re off – The business nominees are Moorcroft Branch Library, First Presbyterian Church and the Moorcroft Interfaith Community.

Leaving the gate – The Moorcroft Public Library, as any library, is important to their community. The library is part of the Crook County Public Library System, which enables the people of Crook County to cherish their history and expand their personal horizons through free and easily accessible information and services. They have a wide range of reading sections from young adult, to adult, to a complete children’s reading section. The library also offers youth programs such as story hour, after-school activities, paint classes and summer reading program. There are adult programs also, such as book clubs, painting classes and craft classes.

Rounding the corner - The First Presbyterian Church of Moorcroft (FPCM) is a local non-profit congregation that is interested in being an active part of the local community. The church is extremely active in youth ministry with the Wednesday night Logo’s Youth Program regularly attended by many kids as well as their families. FPCM also hosts Financial Peace University classes and other learning events as a way of helping members of the community attain a better financial future. As the leading financial contributor to the Moorcroft Emergency Fund, overseen by the Moorcroft Police Department, FPCM supports local families as well as transients who are in desperate need of a helping hand. Members of the congregation also help provide holiday meals for underprivileged families in our community and work with the schools to collect socks, coats, gloves and other winter apparel for those in need. FPCM works with and lends support to many other organizations in town in an effort to meet the needs of citizens. Members are always looking for ways to support and serve within the greater community and everyone is always welcome in the congregation.

Coming down the back stretch – The Moorcroft Interfaith Community (MIC) is working hard to put the “unity back in community”. MIC is a group of community members from many different faiths who strive everyday to live by the golden rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. This passage found in Mathew 7 verse 12 perfectly describes the mission of the Moorcroft Interfaith Community. This principle is the basis for all the community activities and outreach organized by MIC. The MIC is heavily involved in making the food pantries happen in Moorcroft helping those in need.

In the second race, the Citizen of the Year nominees are Ben Glenn, Cindy Mosteller and Monte Reichenberg.

The front runner – Monte Reichenberg is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and one of the organizers of the Moorcroft Interfaith Community. He has volunteered countless hours in making sure the Moorcroft community has plenty to eat since the pandemic began as well as before. While the food pantries are an important part of our community, Monte has helped in several others areas. He is heading up the grief counseling in our community after having several tragedies. Monte is great at getting our youth involved in helping and serving also. He is a great example to all of those who he comes in contact with having a heart of gold and willingness to do what he can.

In the middle of the pack – Ben Glenn is the owner/operator of Glenn Construction since 2003 and has served on the town council since 2010. He is heavily involved in the town and the community and strives to make Moorcroft a better place to raise his family. He is the father of two striking young men and is showing them to help others as much as you can. “We must keep the town alive and make sure that it does not become a place where the youth just grow up and leave and never come back. I think we need to make sure that we always have a place for them to come home to. Several of us, including myself, have grown up here, started businesses here and work in the community. I believe that’s what we need to continue so that we have a good life available in Moorcroft for everybody,” he says.

Down to the finish – Cindy Mosteller is the director of the West Texas Trail Museum. Since relocating her family to Moorcroft in 2012, she has been an active part of the community. Worked for the library for six years before moving to the museum and actively supporting the kids of Moorcroft through booster club and FFA, she is involved as much as she can be. Cindy stepped up and chaired Jubilee in 2020 and was supportive in other chamber activities. Cindy believes that Moorcroft is a great place to raise a family and she enjoys letting others know what is here to do in the area.

The MACC hopes that you will join them in celebrating the “Run for the Roses” Community Banquet. Ladies don’t forget your hats and gents don’t forget your bowties. The “purse” is high for the best hat and most dapper gentleman.

Tickets for this event can be purchased at the West Texas Trail Museum.