The Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT) honored one of Winnemucca's own at the yearly VolunTourism awards ceremony during the NCOT's Tourism Rural Roundup conference in Ely, May 1.
Sheree Tibbals has worked for Ag District 3 as Humboldt County's fairgrounds facilities coordinator for a couple of decades. However, her efforts to promote rural tourism throughout "Cowboy Country" are voluntary, over and above her regular job duties.
The VolunTourism award is given to recognize those whose efforts to champion rural tourism have stood out. An award went to one person in each of Nevada's six designated tourism territories - areas of similar culture and geography.
"Cowboy Country" territory includes I-80 from Lovelock through Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Carlin, Elko, and Wendover, along with Jackpot, on the border with Idaho and McDermitt, close to the Oregon border.
Tibbals started out on the Cowboy Country Territory board of directors as the secretary in 2000, then took over the job as treasurer in addition to doing the books. She also writes the grants and does the follow-up grant evaluations. In the past 14 years, she has done triple representation of Cowboy Country Territory, Winnemucca and Nevada at consumer trade shows in Kansas, Sacramento and Las Vegas.
"I have enjoyed working with the people throughout the Territory and I have made lasting friends," said Tibbals. She said she felt very honored to receive the award from the members of Cowboy Country and NCOT. "I hope to continue working with the Territory," she concluded.
Ag 3 and Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority Director, Kim Petersen said Tibbals does a great job for Cowboy Country Territory and in her work as fairgrounds coordinator in Winnemucca. "Her efforts pay off in well-coordinated events," said Petersen.
"Rural tourism is such an important part of Nevada's tourism profile," Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, NCOT chairman, said. "The dedicated men and women in this industry have played an essential role in the success of rural tourism and I am so happy to be able to recognize their outstanding efforts and commend them on a job well done. We honor these volunteers who go above and beyond their regular job duties to help market the extraordinary offerings found across our great state. They are certainly vital to Nevada tourism, which is a $58 billion industry."
Another award given at the NCOT conference is close to those who've worked in tourism locally: The June Stannard Rural Tourism Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is given to a Nevada high school senior who wants to earn a hospitality, travel, or tourism-related degree at an accredited college or university.
Elizabeth Ortiz, a senior at Valley High School in Las Vegas, is this year's winner of the $1,000 June Stannard Memorial Scholarship. Ortiz participated in Valley High School's Academy of Hospitality and Tourism program, and plans to earn a degree in hospitality management at he University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Ortiz says she will be the first person in her family to attend college.
The scholarship was created in 2008 to honor the memory of June Stannard, long-time operations manager for the Winnemucca Convention Center and avid supporter of Nevada's tourism industry.
"June Stannard loved promoting Winnemucca and the Cowboy Country Territory and her enthusiasm never wavered," Larry Friedman, then NDOT Interim Director said.
The Cowboy Country Territory Advisory Committee manages the scholarship program in affiliation with the Nevada Commission on Tourism.
Contact Joyce Sheen @ j.sheen@winnemuccapublishing.net.
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