Anyone here from Cherry County? (Omaha, McCook: sale, house, buy)

[SCGranny]

What's it like? What's the county seat, Valentine, like? People, interests, things to do (I'm not looking for endless parties, just local festivals, the county fair, etc). What's the main product? What are they proud of? What are they not so proud of? What and where are the main grocery stores/farmer's markets/shopping? Are there a lot of locally owned businesses? What types?
All comments appreciated!

[tpabes]

I hope Sandhills Guru will log on, the Guru can provide you with the best answers. For the basics: Cherry County is big in size, small in population. Made up of mostly large ranches. One of the largest counties in the nation. People generally friendly and really take care of each other. Valentine is a town of around 2,500 has some tourist draw with the Niobrara river. The only national chains I can think of over the top of my head are Holiday Inn Express, McDonalds and Dollar General. There is an Alco, which is mainly in the Midwest I think, which is a variety store. There are several grocery stores in town. Most businesses are probably locally owned. It is as good as it gets for shopping choices in the area. You are several hours from a wal-mart or small mall. Extremely pretty area with the Niobrara, Sandhills and canyons around. Good town to be in on Feb. 14. Recent claim to national news was an incredibly obese man, who couldn't even get out of bed, turn his life around.

[itsMeFred]

What's it like? What's the county seat, Valentine, like? People, interests, things to do (I'm not looking for endless parties, just local festivals, the county fair, etc). What's the main product? What are they proud of? What are they not so proud of? What and where are the main grocery stores/farmer's markets/shopping? Are there a lot of locally owned businesses? What types?

I don't live there anymore, but we lived in Cherry co. for a while. One ranch was south of Kilgore, right along the river. Another was halfway between Merriman and Hyannis, out in the boonies. (Though there are those who would say almost all of Cherry co. is "boonies". lol)

It's the size of CT & DE put together with about 6000 people in the entire county. As I'm sure you know, Valentine is the biggest town in the county. Consequently, even though it's small in population it's an important trade center. Wells Fargo bank, the famous Peppermill restarant, Youngs Western Wear I just love the pic they have on their front page. There's a big bull sale every year in February and it's set up on main street.
That picture will also answer a lot of your questions: the main product is cows (though longhorns are unusual). People are extremely proud to be cowboys and cattlemen/women. And as soon as you walk down mainstreet you'll recognize Valentine as a cowtown, even with modern amenities. The county fair is excellent and includes a pro rodeo.
There's also Old West Days (cowboy poetry!, rendezvou, tradeshow, etc.)

Then there's the ongoing stuff: Floating the river in tubes or canoes (I would recommend going west of Valetine, down around by Anderson bridge, over anything east. There's a lot fewer people). Fort Niobrara is neat, Smith Falls can not be missed! (especially now that there's a nice little walkway up to it. I remember being a kid and having to hike in)
Merritt Reservoir is neat, too. There's a star-gazing gathering at Merritt in the summer which is supposed to be kind of cool, too.

anyway, that's what I can think of off the top of my head. (Can you tell I miss CHerry co? lol)

--Erin

[star_gazer]

I can vouch for the Nebraska Star Party of course... one of the top such events in the nation... and something truly unique if you've never been to one. You don't need a telescope... we love to share views. Find out more here: The Nebraska Star Party

I'm a native Nebraskan... born in Omaha (which I understand to other Nebraskans... perhaps disqualifies me from being a Nebraskan some how ... and along those lines...) ... however only 'discovered' the incredible Sand Hills late in life... after going out to my first Nebraska Star Party. Valentine truly is like an oasis in this totally foreign setting. The Sand Hills have a beauty all their own... but then you come across this incredibly contrasting Niobrara River valley slicing through it. I hadn't done much canoeing (outside of scouts)... but found tubing down the Niobrara one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever pursued. The river doesn't get any deeper than about 18"... and moves along at a snail pace... a great time for the kids! Then of course there's the fantastic Smith Falls. The Nebraska Star Party is actually held at Merritt Reservoir, about 20 miles south of Valentine... a wonderful state park as well... the Sand Hills providing beautiful, sugar fine sandy beaches (and given the population... you generally have a beach to yourself).

As I'm sure many Sturgis people (who tend to go off the beaten path) know... Valentine/Sand Hills makes for a great detour on any trip to the Black Hills/Rushmore/etc.

Go quick though... otherwise it may all end up being Ted Turner's private property.

[SCGranny]

Well, I'm kinda natcherally stubborn. I was looking for property to set up a quiet, off-the-beaten-track rural home for me and hubby and a 'home base' for our adult kids.

I've always been a country girl, raised, dried, and canned vegies and fruit and herbs, raised chickens, trained horses, built a greenhouse, make my own dinnerware and clothes, hunted a little bit, and now where I live it's kinda grown up and gotten a lot of ordinances that said I can't do any of this any more (except make my clothes - so far.). So I looked at some property in Cherry County (among other places) and was pleasantly surprised.

But since hubby and I are very laid back folk, don't bother nobody but don't mind helpin anybody (firefighters, both of us, and EMS too), we want to be sure we don't buy a pig in a poke. After all, this will be our last move, and we want to make the right choice. Don't want interstates. Don't want development. Don't want fast food joints or fancy or chain restaurants. We do like to go down to the local bar and hang with folk on occasion, but we don't get too rowdy - but we can't even do that anymore here either. We like 4-H fairs and county fairs, and rodeos and Fourth of July celebrations, and we decorate heavily (though not like Christmas Vacation!) for Christmas.

I want to hear the coyotes bark at the back fence again, and be able to have a horse or two and saddle up and ride if I want to again. I want to hear my own rooster crow, and have an even bigger greenhouse. Mostly I want to do what I love, and get along with neighbors that aren't trying to outdo each other with a bigger house or SUV or boat, or who think that my front yard has too many flowers or fruit trees and not enough grass, or who go on and on endlessly about how busy busy busy happy happy happy they are. I want pitchdark quiet nights and snowy winter days, and to smell like horse and cow poop again.

Ya'll think I'm asking too much?

[tpabes]

Sounds like Cherry County would fit you, and you won't have to worry about a huge amount of development, unless they find oil or gold in the Sandhills.

[star_gazer]

I just noticed SCGranny was South Carolina... not Sioux City.

Are you ready for the cold, snowy, wind swept plains??

It gets really hot up there too (hottest in the state)... although it's a 'drier' heat.

[SCGranny]

LOL oh, yes, star gazer!
Just cause I'm from SC doesn't mean I've lived there all my life... NM twice, TX, OH, NC mountains, etc... and I vacation in ID with my brother. Always in the winter. The last time during the longest snowstorm on record... grin. We went x-country skiing when it was -15 degrees! MAN that was a great four hours! All the folks in his tiny town thought we were crazy because we walked everywhere; grocery shopping, to the bar at night, etc.

Hot? Oh, darlin, let me tell you about hot. Hot is 100 degrees for a week or two at a time, with 100% humidity - and it isn't raining. Hot is where the sweat never dries and sticks to you like mineral oil. Hot is where the only reason you don't walk around naked is because your skin will burn in uncomfortable places, or stick to metal and brand you like a steer. Hot is when the hot tub seems so cool and refreshing... That's heat in the South. Living in it is like breathing underwater in a hot tub.

But the cold in the humidity is worse. It eats into your bones like tiny gnawing mice. It cannot be avoided. Cement "sweats" and freezes slickly under your feet without rain or snow. When you breathe, it is like ice shards are forming in your throat and lungs, and you can feel the pneumonia growing with every breath.

Gimme some dry heat that whisks the sweat away, and doesn't make my cow poop in the garden grow gooey mold before it can rot, and a light dry breathable cold.

Want to hear something funny? I am a smoker, two packs a day here - but when I am in ID, I might smoke three cigs a day. Smoking here dries out my throat and nasal passages so that I can breathe - up there I already can breathe!

So, yeah, I think I am ready... but I really appreciate your concern. I've seen a lot of folks move to their 'dream home' and not think that weather changes are a factor.

[star_gazer]

Yeah... I guess I sort of forgot about the oppressive humidity down there.

[itsMeFred]

I beg to differ. Cherry co. is most assuredly not the hottest part of the state. Anywhere south of the Interstate/Platte is going to be warmer. McCook claims the dubious honor of being the "Hot Spot of Nebraska".
Having lived the first 25 years of my life in various parts of northern NE, and currently living in the SW corner, I have to say southern NE is quite a bit warmer.

Ya'll think I'm asking too much?

Nope. I know a lot of people (myself included) who live just like you described. Anywhere in the Sandhills would fit that particular set of criteria. However, you might be happier near Valentine than Hyannis or somewhere else equally remote. Valentine is considered well-populated by Sandhills standards.
Though the rest of the world (Nebraska included) would consider it a very small town...

--Erin