Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, rheal@cfra.org, 402.687.2100 ext 1025
Lyons, Nebraska - The Center for Rural Affairs has chosen Ross Knott, a native and longtime resident of Petersburg, Nebraska, to receive its 2017 Citizenship Award. He will be recognized at an award ceremony on March 9 in Red Cloud, Nebraska.
The Citizenship Award is given to an individual or individuals who actively participate in the civic process for creating public policy, and who work closely with the Center for Rural Affairs to advance public policies that strengthen family farms, ranches, and rural communities.
“Since the development of a wind farm in the Petersburg area several years ago, Ross has been an advocate for wind energy in his county and across the state,” said Johnathan Hladik, policy program director.
He has been a speaker at community meetings and town halls hosted by the Center, most recently participating in a tele-town hall on wind energy development.
For the past 19 years, Knott has served on the Boone County Development Agency Board and on the Petersburg Industrial Development Corporation.
He has worked in community banking for 31 years, and currently is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Great Plains State Bank, in Petersburg. He also owns and operates Sandbur Ridge Red Angus, a livestock operation.
“Ross uses his experience in community economic development and agriculture to draw out the benefits of wind energy, as well as the story of Petersburg, and is a strong, rural voice in support of renewable development,” Hladik said.
Knott and his wife, Danielle, have four children, Lane, Riley, Macy, and Trey.
