Caitlin Roes has always called Nebraska home. Born in Kearney and raised in Sidney, she feels a deep connection to the state’s rural communities. As the newest Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension educator at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she is using her background in business, education and community engagement to help small towns in the Panhandle thrive.
Based in Rushville, Roes covers a vast eight-county region—Box Butte, Cherry, Dawes, Grant, Hooker, Sheridan, Sioux and Thomas counties—supporting local leaders, businesses, and residents in maximizing the resources their communities already have and making them thrive even more.
A graduate of Chadron State College, Roes studied business administration, marketing and entrepreneurship. She later completed her Masters of Business Administration. Her affinity for rural Nebraska led her to college admissions, where she learned from students what draws people to the region — and what keeps them there.
As an Extension educator, she is now concentrating on creating connections among rural Nebraskans that strengthen the economic and social fabric of rural communities.
Since starting in December, Roes has focused on relationship-building, meeting with chamber directors, county clerks and small business owners to better understand their unique needs. From supporting entrepreneurs to enhancing community development, she sees her role as a bridge between rural residents and the opportunities Rural Prosperity Nebraska provides.
At home in Chadron, Roes and her husband, Brady, are raising their young son, Graham, in the same small-town environment they cherish. Whether spending time on the family ranch, helping at her parents’ local coffee shop, or working with community members, she is not only invested in the future of Nebraska’s rural communities, but sees herself as part of it.
“I’m excited to continue making connections and ensuring that even the smallest towns have the resources to grow and prosper,” Roes says.
