Barton County Youth Crew’s annual celebration included games, dinner and prizes, along with a recap of last year’s accomplishments and a look ahead to this year, said Tyler Morton, Juvenile Services prevention advocate.
“We brought back the annual kickball tournament in August 2025 and became involved in even more community-service opportunities with additional partners,” Morton said.
Also, Youth Crew was recognized with the Youth Award by the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce, and Morton was named the Sherill Carlson Outstanding Sponsor of the Year through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, which sponsors Youth Leaders in Kansas.
“Now we are looking ahead and planning for quite of bit of fundraising this year,” Morton noted. “Our Drug Free Communities grant is running out but we look forward to sustainability; fundraising will be a prominent part of the future of Youth Crew.”
In addition, the group always seeks more avenues to providing community services and more prevention efforts in local schools.
“We also encourage participation in the Kansas Communities That Care Survey, which provides insights on risky behaviors and students’ viewpoints. It would be great to have more feedback from our individual community surveys too,” Morton commented.
Approximately 60 people attended the annual gathering at the Knop Event Space in Ellinwood.
“We cannot adequately express our gratitude to these participants, as well as to community partners that support Youth Crew year-round,” Morton emphasized. “While these young people volunteer their time and talents to our many projects, their value is not defined by awards but by their contributions to the community and how they present themselves to others.
“This celebration highlights how they step up to meet challenges, while learning about public service and community engagement. Thanks to families and community partners, we have platforms to showcase the difference we make.”
20th Judicial District Juvenile Services empowers youth in Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Stafford and Russell counties to achieve positive outcomes by offering Juvenile Intake & Assessment, Immediate Intervention, Intensive Supervised Probation, Case Management, Journey to Change, Life Skills, All Stars and Youth Crew. Parents and guardians also are offered The Parent Project. Visit 1800 12th in Great Bend or call 620-793-1930.
