Board Members

 Amy joined the board in 2023.  Serving on boards and stepping into leadership roles is nothing new to Amy. As she raised her children,  she always seemed to find herself volunteering her time to the many organizations they were involved in. Now that they are grown, Amy is ready to give back to the community that has become her home.  She is excited to become involved in GCCF to not only help make present day Gove County stronger but to leave a legacy for future Gove County residents. 

Stephanie joined the foundation in 2016 after attending a Dane G. Hansen forum in person. There, the Hansen Foundation announced their $50,000 match month initiative for the first time and the fire was ignited. While Stephanie has been a part of other non-profits and organizations, none struck a chord quite like building a sustainable nest egg for the Gove County community.

Though not a native to the area, Stephanie has grown to love Gove County and is passionate about seeing it not only survive but thrive. She is committed to helping Grow Gove County.

Mitch's current involvement with the Gove County Community Foundation started in the fall of 2011. It was obvious at the time (and still is) that if the communities kept doing what they had been doing they would get the same results; a downward spiral in population, closing of businesses and services, which would eventually lead to the decimation of our small towns. 

Our communities needed to work together, think outside the box and take actions to make a difference. The Gove County Economic Development Committee was formed first, which he was a part of. 

As they organized and met to address the many concerns and ideas, it was apparent that a community foundation was needed in their “toolbox.” The group thought it would be best to affiliate under the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation located in Bird City, a newly formed regional foundation whose purpose was to help with foundations such as this. They met with the director of GNWKCF, and the Gove County Community Foundation was born. To simplify, the directors of the Economic Development were also the directors of the Community Foundation.

It became apparent that a split into two different Boards was needed as there was now too much work for one group. Mitch chose to stay on the Gove County Community Foundation Board. He also serves as a Board Member of the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation. 

It is amazing and hard to comprehend what the generosity and legacy of one man, Dane G Hansen, who passed away over 55 years ago, has done for 26 counties. 

Just imagine what 2600 residents could do for just our one county of Gove. Good things are happening, and the possibilities are endless.

Board Member Roger Ringer is a fourth-generation resident of Western Kansas, born and raised in Quinter. He and his wife, Carri, live northwest of Quinter in a passive-solar house they designed and built in 1981. Both are avid readers and enthusiastic gardeners. They have two grown children and four grandchildren.

Roger's varied interests include renewable energy systems, sustainable agriculture, ecology-based economics, and rural sociology. He states, "The decades-long trend of out-migration from rural areas is primarily due to structural imbalances in the larger economy; these are mostly beyond local control. So, for those of us who live here, it means that maintaining the size of our population is going to continue to be an uphill struggle. I see the community foundation as an important tool for slowing or even reversing population decline. By working together, we can locate strategic leverage points and focus our efforts on ways that build up new opportunities and enhance the long-term viability of our local communities."

Roger has served as a board member since the foundation's inception.

As a past school board member and economic development board member, Duane Vollbracht understands the tremendous need for rural communities to think outside the box to better the opportunities for all who live within them. Being a founding member of the Gove County Community Foundation (GCCF), he has witnessed the energy of people within small communities to build from the gracious programs and monies of the Dane G Hansen Foundation granted through GCCF. Duane believes that the Foundation and the people within Gove County are blessed to have an organization that understands the need for rural communities to succeed through philanthropy.

As a GCCF board member, Duane is proud to see the generous donations from local individuals and businesses over the past few years. He and the board have seen great things happen and hope to continue to inspire donors through trust and the desire to make Gove County a better place for the future.

 Dusty was asked to be on the GCCF Board in 2016.  At that time the Board had been working as a Foundation and Economic Development and was working closely with the Dane G Hansen Foundation to facilitate the pass-through grants.  As a community minded, forward thinker, this Board was a great fit for her.  Dusty is a former Girl Scout Leader, current Gove County Fair Board Member and 4-H Leader. She understands how valuable the pass-through funds have been to the local non-profit organizations. She is proud to be a part of an organization that is not only benefiting the current youth and community organizations but also forward thinking by establishing endowed funds.  She believes the annual Dueling Pianos Gala paired with the November Match Month are instrumental in spreading awareness about GCCF and our initiatives. 

Ryan Cooksey is a third-generation member of Cooksey Appliance, a family business founded in 1949 in Park, Kansas. Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, Cooksey Appliance has been a cornerstone of the community for decades. Ryan is a lifelong resident of Gove County and is married to Laura, an RN nurse who has dedicated 17 years to Gove County Medical Center. Together, they have four children.

An Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, Ryan enjoys gardening and spending time outdoors with his family, whether at the lake or attending sporting events. He is an active member of the Sacred Heart Parish Council and was invited to join the GCCF Board in April 2024.

Ryan’s motivation for joining the GCCF Board stems from a desire to ensure sustainability for future generations in Gove County and to help maintain the cherished small-town quality of life. He is inspired by the foundation’s impressive history of grant-giving and is committed to fostering community connections.

Sue became a resident of Gove County in July 1986, when her spouse joined a medical practice in Quinter. Born in eastern Kansas, where generations of her family farmed and ranched, Sue's upbringing was diverse due to her parent being an Air Force pilot. This role took her all over the USA and to two European countries.

Sue has been a part of several volunteer organizations over the years and has proudly served as a city council member off and on, currently serving as the President of the Council. Raising four children and supporting their schooling and activities have kept her busy.

Sue is sincerely humbled to be part of the Gove County Community Foundation board. Watching the energy that the availability of grant money generates in the county for its future is inspiring and exciting. She finds the contributions of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and their board to Northwest Kansas counties truly inspiring.

More information coming soon!