State senators and representatives visited the Atchison County booth at Great Northwest Day. Pictured, from left to right, are: Rep. Allen Andrews, Carol Clark, Ashlee Driskell, Crystal Woodring, Senator Dan Hegeman, Monica Bailey, Sheridan Mires, and Susette Taylor. The Atchison County booth, below, was the winner of the 2020 booth contest.

Great Northwest Day at the Capitol 2020 drew more than 300 area constituents together to showcase the region in Jefferson City February 4-5. Individuals from the 19-county region including multiple communities and representatives from business, education, healthcare and government came together to discuss issues that are critical to the region. This year’s priorities focused on sustaining rural economic and community development strategies; support preschool-12/higher education, innovation, and career development for all ages; ensuring end-of-the-road high-speed internet through broadband and fiber; revive relevant infrastructure throughout northwest Missouri; and increase rural access to affordable primary and mental health care.

A luncheon kicked off the event on Tuesday with Governor Mike Parson as keynote speaker. “More than 300 Missourians have gathered in Jefferson City to meet with state leaders about the issues that impact Northwest Missouri,” Governor Parson said. “What a great way to promote your region – communities coming together in a unified voice!”

The afternoon was spent making visits to legislators and departments or attending informative community roundtable presentations. Dr. Sarah Low, University of Missouri Extension, spoke about building rural entrepreneurship, and a broadband panel, featuring representatives of most internet providers in the Great Northwest (including Michael Goins of Rock Port Telephone/Midwest Data Center), discussed various challenges and current efforts to meet internet needs throughout our region.

The evening event, designed to educate attendees about Northwest Missouri, consisted of a regional expo that showcased community/county booths which promotes each county’s attributes. Over 400 attended the event including state senators and representatives as well as representatives from state offices and departments.

The two-day event concluded Wednesday morning with a breakfast and presentation from Commissioner of Higher Education Zora Mulligan.

Atchison County’s booth (winner of the 2020 booth contest) highlighted both the 2019 flood and all the positive ways Atchison County is “Staying Alive.” Atchison County attendees were Crystal Woodring, Ashlee Driskell, Carol Clark, Susette Taylor, Tim Taylor, Michael Goins, Sheridan Mires, Kevin Dechant, Duane Klute, Hugh Wallace, Larry Lauman, Craig Heits, and Atchison County Coordinator Monica Bailey.

One of the biggest benefits of this annual event is making sure Northwest Missouri is not overlooked and that regional needs and concerns are heard. Great Northwest Day chair Darrell Gardner stated, “Great Northwest Day is a great opportunity for our state government and citizens to connect and learn from each other. It truly is a connection we need.”

Volunteers from across the region began planning for the event in August of 2019. Community and corporate sponsors provide financial support for this annual project. Sponsors for this year’s event were Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, Mosaic Life Care, Allstate Consultants, Evergy, Spencer Fane, Cameron Regional Medical Center, Saint Luke’s Health System, North Central Missouri College, Northwest Missouri State University, Missouri Western State University, Missouri American Water, Snyder & Associates and Olsson.

For more information on this annual legislative event, visit the website at www.greatnorthwestday.com.