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Official sees big potential in small county
McCOOK, Neb. -- Hayes County, the least populated county in the Golden Plains Region of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, has embarked upon a determined effort to grow its population. The effort began in October of 2014 when the county's three major governmental entities -- the Hayes County Commission, the Hayes Center Public School District and the Village of Hayes Center -- signed an interlocal agreement to "further advance the economic development in Hayes Center and Hayes County."
To advance their cause, the united Hayes County governmental groups decided in May of 2015 to begin a search for the right person to lead the economic development initiative. Being very choosy -- because of the importance of the mission -- the interlocal group waited 15 months before finding the right person for the job.
Their choice -- Craig Softley -- started his duties as Coordinator for Economic Development for Hayes County on Tuesday, Aug. 9. His job, according to a front page article in the Aug. 18 edition of the Hayes Center Times-Republican, will be, "to find ways to bring people into our area, whether it be people with businesses; with kids to grow our school numbers, or people looking for a laid back, small town lifestyle." At the last official count, the Census of 2010, Hayes County's population was 967. That total was up slightly, to 976, when a population estimate was made in 2013.
Softley, who was born and raised in Perkins County, graduated from Grant High School in 1997. He continued his education at Colorado School of Mines, where he majored in mechanical engineering. He went on to a career with an engineering firm, Rio Tinto, traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Australia as a specialist in equipment performance. Following that, Craig went to work in wet corn milling for Cargill in Eddyville, Iowa.
Then, in mid-March, Craig, his wife, Rhea (a 1999 Hayes Center High School grad), and their four children, Caylie, 7; Carly, 5; Cydney, 3; and Colton, 1, moved to Hayes County, where Craig launched a consulting company and he and Rhea joined her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rick May, in the family's ranching and farming operation. As part of their relocation, Rhea is returning to the education field, serving as the fifth and sixth grade teacher for the Hayes Center school district.
As the economic development coordinator, Craig will report to a three-person development team composed of Andrea Richards, representing the school district; Kenny Johnson, representing the village; and Barry Richards, representing the county commission.
Upon accepting the economic development position, Craig said, "Rhea and I have lived in four different states, but our hearts have always been in Southwest Nebraska. We made the decision to come back and support the May family ranching and farming operation this past spring and couldn't be happier to be here. Hayes Center offers a unique educational environment with the best student-to-teacher ratio in the state. Our children are already benefitting significantly from our getting out of the city and being around the animals and the hard work on the ranch.
"Prior to coming back I had a team of 20 engineers working for me. Although my kids knew I worked a lot and where my office was, they had a limited understanding of what I did. Now they get to come with me to build fence or feed cattle. It has been a real blessing to have more time with them.
"Living and working in Hayes County allows us to take advantage of the wide open spaces, the lower property taxes, and the additional time we have together as a family."
After reflecting a bit more about the advantages of living in the wide open spaces of Southwest Nebraska, Craig added, "One of the things we really missed when we were away was the opportunity, every day, to watch the sunrises and sunsets which are so glorious on the Golden Plains. Now, that we are back, we really enjoy just how far we can see and all of the natural beauty of the area."
As Craig embarked upon his economic development career, he said it is important to realize that Hayes County ... although small in numbers ... is big in opportunities. "Just think," he said, "about how blessed we are in Hayes County to be so close to nature and, most important of all, so near to our family, friends and neighbors."