NORFOLK, NE - Seven Pinnacle Bank branches in northeast Nebraska have come together to support Northeast Community College’s Nexus project. Pinnacle Bank in O’Neill, Verdigre, Neligh, Madison, Humphrey, Wisner, and Valentine have pledged $250,000 to the project to replace 100-year-old ag facilities on the college farm.
“Our community is centered around agriculture,” said Paula Havranek, Pinnacle Bank’s O’Neill branch president and current Northeast Foundation board member. “The agribusinesses we have here, along with the producers, support every business in this town. If we didn’t have agriculture here, our community would struggle to survive.”
Pinnacle Bank is a family-owned, Nebraska-based, community bank founded in 1938. It traces its roots back to Palmer, Nebraska, during the Great Depression. The bank’s founders, George and Tom Dinsdale, were farmers by trade who opened the bank to make a difference in their community. Today, Pinnacle has 66 branches across Nebraska, with a total of 152 locations in seven states. Altogether, the bank holds more than $12 billion in assets.
Dr. Tracy Kruse, associate vice president of development and external affairs at Northeast Community College and executive director of the Northeast Foundation, expressed appreciation for Pinnacle Bank’s investment in the Nexus project.
“Support from Pinnacle Bank will help ensure the future of agriculture in this area,” Kruse said. “Students in the Northeast ag program are the next generation of farmers and ranchers and agribusiness employees. They are the future of small communities throughout the 20-county area served by Northeast.”
“We have to invest today in order to have growth in the future,” Havranek said. “We at Pinnacle Bank are excited about the Nexus project and urge others to invest in the future of agriculture.”
Those wishing to donate may visit agwaternexus.com to find the “Donate Now” link.
“You can give a one-time gift or a recurring gift,” Kruse explained. “As little as $20 a month over the five-year pledge period means a $1,200 donation to help create a state-of-the-art education facility for agriculture students.”
Funding for the $23 million Agriculture & Water Center for Excellence project is currently being solicited to enhance and expand the agriculture facilities at Northeast Community College. In addition to the college’s commitment of $10 million, Northeast is seeking at least $13 million in private funds to begin the initial phase of construction, which includes a new veterinary technology clinic and classrooms, a new farm site with a large animal handling facility and other farm structures for livestock operations, a farm office and storage. The new facilities will be located near the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex on E. Benjamin Ave. in Norfolk.
In August, the Acklie Charitable Foundation (ACF) announced a $5 million lead gift to the Nexus project. ACF was founded by the late Duane Acklie and Phyllis Acklie, both Madison County natives and graduates of Norfolk Junior College, a predecessor institution of Northeast Community College.
For more information on the Nexus Campaign, contact Kruse, at tracyk@northeast.edu, or call (402) 844-7056. Online donations may be made through agwaternexus.com. Checks may also be mailed to Nexus Campaign, Northeast Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 469, Norfolk, NE 68702-0469.
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PHOTO ID: Market presidents for Pinnacle Bank are (from left) Kevin Black, Wisner; Justin Hammond, Valentine; Kevin Small, Madison and Humphrey; Paula Havranek, O’Neill; Andy Elder, Neligh; and Kris Koelzer, Verdigre. (Courtesy Photo)