News & Stories
Nominations Open for 2025 Kalkaska Citizen of the Year
Image description: Miss Kalkaska 2024 with the 2024 Kalkaska Citizen of the Year, Derek Hogerheide and the 2024 Business of the Year owners, Kwin and Megan Morris of Twin Birch Restaurant & Golf Club
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Kalkaska Citizen of the Year, a decades-long tradition in Kalkaska County that honors a resident for their civic involvement. Award nominations are being accepted through the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and are due by February 21. The winner will be announced in March.
The Kalkaska Citizen of the Year call for nominations is typically coupled with a call for Kalkaska Business of the Year nominations. However, based on nominations from previous years, Kalkaska Award Nominating Committee members have chosen to honor three local potato farms as the 2025 Kalkaska Businesses of the Year—including Elmaple Farm, Iott Seed Farms, and Jenkins Potato Farm—in recognition of their many years of economic impact on the local Kalkaska community.
Kalkaska County residents are invited to submit nominations for the 2024 Kalkaska Citizen of the Year on the Community Foundation’s website at: https://www.gtrcf.org/events/.
The Kalkaska Citizen and Businesses of the Year will be honored at the 55th Annual Kalkaska Luncheon, hosted by the Community Foundation, on April 22 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at Railroad Square Pavilion in downtown Kalkaska, kicking off the National Trout Festival celebration. Event registrations are now available for $20 per person or $250 for a table sponsorship.
The Community Foundation covers the cost of the Annual Kalkaska Luncheon so that 100% of event registrations and sponsorships can directly support the Endowment for Kalkaska Area, a permanent fund dedicated to supporting the people and places in the Kalkaska community. All additional donations support the Endowment's growth, furthering community benefit. Event registration is available online at: https://www.gtrcf.org/events/.