Friday's activities began with a golf outing at Loup City Golf Club, followed by a meet-and-greet dinner at the VFW Hall. On Saturday, participants spent the day enjoying guided fishing at Sherman Reservoir, with complimentary breakfast and lunch provided by Budda’s Meats and Trade Winds Marina. That evening, they reconvened for a banquet at the fairgrounds, where raffle prizes were awarded and commemorative challenge coins were presented to the honored guests.

The event is organized by Servicemen of the Heartland Outdoors, a nonprofit founded in 2019. The group’s mission is to recognize law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, first responders and military veterans from across the Midwest with meaningful outdoor experiences.

“This is about giving back to people who selflessly serve their own communities,” said L.J. Treffer, a new board member and returning guide. “Whether it's guiding someone on the water, donating supplies or meals, helping with setup, or just showing up to lend a hand, it's really a great opportunity to give back to something bigger than yourself.”

Among this year’s nominees was Norman Roland, a Vietnam veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient from Ravenna. He described the recognition as a shock and deeply appreciated. “I tell you what, it really humbled me. This was heartwarming,” Roland said. Roland also caught the biggest fish of the weekend – a 27.25-inch walleye.

At the other end of the scale, Danelle Nelson proudly claimed the prize for smallest catch. “I caught a crappie, the littlest fish, which I won the award for,” she said with a laugh. Nelson, a master sergeant with 23 years in the Air National Guard, said the most meaningful part of the weekend was connecting with other veterans. “The older veterans really get to me,” she said. “They don’t always talk much, and I feel like they sometimes have a hard time relating to younger generations. But you can see in their faces how much this means. Some were teary-eyed. So it was huge. It was good.”

The banquet also featured the presentation of a $5,000 scholarship to Autum R. Maline of Cozad, Nebraska, who will attend the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. “That's one of the focuses of giving back to the community, is also fundraising enough money to give out a scholarship every year,” said L.J. Treffer. “The scholarship is meant for students pursuing trade schools or careers in public service. Ideally, someone that's going to give back to their local community, whether as a technician, healthcare worker, or police officer.”

The event runs on community support, with volunteers like Claire Guinzy helping run raffles, assist participants and coordinate logistics. A participant herself in 2024, Guinzy returned this year to give back. “Once you're out of service, people may thank you if you're wearing a hat. But if you don't, people don't know. Events like this remind people that we still appreciate what veterans have done,” she said.

For Josh Johnson, a veteran and three-time fishing guide, the connection with others is what matters most. “Every year I've met somebody different and had them in my boat, and become friends. It's just really something special,” he said.