A detailed architectural blueprint and 3D rendering of a building interior, showing multiple rooms including a kitchen, restrooms, mechanical room, and storage, with measurements and construction notes.

HONORING OUR PAST, CRAFTING OUR FUTURE

WORKSHOP RENEWAL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Construction workers operating a concrete pump truck pouring cement on a driveway near a white house with trees in the background.
Long rectangular table set for a formal meal with white chairs, wine glasses, plates, and silverware, in a rustic-style banquet room with wood beams, windows, and curtains.

10+ YEARS
IN THE MAKING

Black and white historical photo of workers in a factory or workshop with machinery and woodwork, some workers are handling tools or materials. The room has wood-paneled walls and multiple windows.

PROJECT SCOPE

The Workshop is the primary year-round facility at Prairie Loft, advancing our ability to serve the community through education and events. Thanks to strong community support, this $1.8 million project began in 2013. The Workshop will offer adaptable spaces for educational programs, retreats, and other community gatherings, along with essential amenities like a commercial kitchen, office space, bathrooms, and storage.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Workshop was once a machine shed on the working farm that served the Hastings Regional Center. Prairie Loft has breathed new life into three historic farm buildings, including the iconic Loft Barn (horse barn), Pavilion (fire hall), and finally the Workshop (machine shed). This preservation effort is central to our mission of honoring agricultural heritage while meeting the modern needs of our growing community.

lead support

The project’s lead supporters have spanned the decade-long process across three phases of construction.

Anonymous

Centennial Plastics

Forever in Our Hearts - The Family of Kenneth Stein

Larry & Barbara Schnase

Nebraska Shovel-Ready Reconstruction Act

The LeRoy Thom, Jean Thom, & T-L Irrigation Foundation

The Peter Kiewit Foundation

Gable

The gable roof defines the barn’s iconic look and maximizes its usable space; key to transforming the Workshop into a fully functional, historically preserved space that will serve Prairie Loft’s growing needs for years to come.

Anonymous

Chuck Shoemaker & Lynne Friedewald

Osborne Family DAF

The Adams County Convention & Visitors Bureau

The JAMA Family Foundation


Cupola

The cupola allows light and air into the barn, bringing vision and possibilities to the Workshop project, enabling new educational and community opportunities.


Anonymous

Carroll & Bonnie Burling

Cooperative Producers, Inc.

Dorothy Dean & Jarrod Rodgers

Stein Electric

Farm Credit Services of America

Five Points Bank

Hastings Community Foundation

Heritage Bank

Pinnacle Bank

Matt & Stephanie Pershing

Lee & Eileen Saathoff

Debra & David Schnase

Darrel & Marilyn Stromer

The Kitty M. Perkins Foundation

Jim & Jean Thom

Barn Door

Just as a barn door welcomes people inside, creating a space for community gatherings and educational events.

Anonymous

Berger Livestock

Hastings Economic Development Corporation

Heartland Bank

Tim & Susan Overmiller

John & Cathy Pershing

Jack & Judy Sandeen

South Central Nebraska Quarter Horse Association

The Chief Foundation

The Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation

The Sunnyside Foundation

Mike & Lois Thom

Robert & Betty Trausch

Peg & John Welch

Irene Wirt

Hayloft

The hayloft stores valuable resources, providing the essential tools and materials required to complete the Workshop renovation.

Drs. Tyler & Stephanie Adam

Dr. George & Colleen Adam

Agri Affiliates

Aurora Cooperative

Bridget Barron

Jill & John Beyke

Brian & Janet Bish

Stephanie & Mark Bliss

John Bohmfalk

Diane & John Borthwick

Kevin & Jane Bruntz

Chase & Sarah Crawford

Roger & Karen Doerr

Carol & Stan Eilers

David Evans

Julie Fletcher

Great Plains Cattle Company

Matt & Suzanne Greenquist

Mat & Kyla Habrock

Bob & Mary Hansen

Deb Hardin Quirk & John Quirk

Hawthorne Insurance

Bob & Jan Herbek

Randy & Phyllis Jacobitz

Calvin & Jane Johnson

Howard & Belva Junker

Neal & Gloria Katzberg

Ron & Evelyn Katzberg

Don & Pat Kingsley

Pete & Marcia Konen

Dutton-Lainson

Nancy Langford

Lynn & Kim Lisius

Sharen Lukow

Anthony & Meg May

Jessie McAndrew

Carol & Dan McWhirter

Chuck & Mary Lou Neumann

Marilyn Nielsen

Daren & Buffy Niemeyer

Rich Olson

Ben & Armeshia Onken

Industrial Irrigation

Shelley Parks

Adam & Ashley Pavelka

Mike & Cindy Peak

Barb & Gerry Preissler

Joan & Tom Quinn

Ruhter Auction & Realty

Doug & Gail Saathoff

Dick & Kathy Samuelson

Ed & Margaret Schlachter

Roger & Donna Shaw

Amy Skalka & Josh Yost

Gaylen Stahl

Susie Stahl

Stein Manufacturing

Stromer Land Levelling, Inc.

Chris & Amanda Thom

Town & Country Realty

Dennis & Charlene Turner

Ryan & Kristi Weeks

Justin & Kili Wenburg

West Fork Farms

Kelsey & Beau Wissing

Peter Zandbergen

Beams & Rafters

Beams and rafters provide the structural integrity of a barn. These donors play a critical role in supporting the structural upgrades needed for the Workshop to serve as a versatile meeting and educational space.

George & Josie Anderson

Animal Clinic of Hastings

Aaron & Diane Augustin

Betsy & Gary Bennett

Joe & Ginger Billesbach

Bruce Furniture

Todd & Pattie Burr

Clarence & Kristen Charles

Creed Farms

Cortney Davis

Bruce & Kim Day

Sally Dorr Hatcher

Dwight Dunsworth

Matt & Jan Dwyer

Jason Niemoth & Amy Dzingle-Niemoth

Eco-Drip Irrigation Supply, Inc.

Donovan & Kathleen Foote

Ken & Jan Franzen

Dr. Richard & Linda French

Lindsay & Zach Frey

Producers Hybrids

Stephanie Furrer & Scott Pittsey

Gottsch Cattle Company

Tim Grothen

Hastings Family Chiropractic PC

Tami & Jerry Hellman

Bill & Amy Hermes

Chris & Jacki Hochstetler

Craig & Nancy Hollister

Brent & Sarah Hoops

Michelle Hultine & John Schneider

Integrity Ag Services, LLC

Gary & Emily Johnson

Sally Jurgensmier

Mike & Diane Karr

B.J. & Candice Katzberg

Rick & Linda Klamm

Darrell & Kaye Light

Rex & Kristin Lukow

Drs. Jessica Meeske & Todd Pankratz

Susan Meeske & Brady Rhodes

Mr. Sparkles Cleaning Service

Bob Murphy

Matt & Brandi Oman

Eldon & Tammy Orthmann

Colleen & Tom Pauley

Rhonda Pauley

Ron & Kay Pavelka

Pillen Family Farms

Amy Sandeen

Shirley & Van Sandstedt

Darrel & Connie Schukei

Mary & Jerry Seiler

Justin Stein

Lindsey & Ethan Stout

Chad & Leah Trausch

Spotts Trust

Scott & Ginger Turner

Kevin & Carissa Uhrmacher

Randy & Kathy Uhrmacher

Amy & Brad White

Patty & Jeff Wissing

Joachim Wunderlich & Laura Marvel Wunderlich

Roger & Mary Ann Wright

Foundation

Just as the foundation supports a barn, donors at this level help lay the groundwork for renovating the Workshop, transforming it into a functional space for community use.

Seth & Rochelle Andersen

Dick & Connie Anderson

Lafe Anderson

Mike & Kristen Anderson

Gary Barth

Dave Berens

Black Hills Energy

Bill & Martha Boyd

Aimee & Justin Burch

Erin Cafferty

Central Valley Rentals

Roger Coffman

Beth & Randy Coil

Collins Ag Services

Mark & Sharon Dreher

Chuck & Sig Eigenberg

Vicki Ensign

Tom Farrell

Gary & Susan Freeman

Dennis & Janice Gengenbach

Green Cover Seed

Mollie & Jon Hart

Dean & Karen Hawthorne

Kevin Hendrix

Charles & Margaret Hermes

Jeff & Rachel Hoch

Brian Hoffman & Kittie Grace

Don Jackson & Bev Nelson

Kathy Jensen

Bob Johnson

Don Jurgensmeier

Bryce & Becky Katzberg

Beth & Tony Kavan

Neel & Angela Keiser

Randy & Brenda Knapp

Jim & Cheryl Kostal

Paul & Lynette Krieger

Paul & Barb Krueger

LandMark Implement

Chelsea LeMar

Ed & Cheryl Lockwood

Christopher Maunder

Genevieve McClaskey

Amy & Craig Nelson

Mary Ann Niemoth

Dan & Rhonda Olson

Jane & Gene Parks

Stan & Sharon Pavelka

Bob & Dee Poppe

William & Megan Rathje

Tom & Leah Ratzlaff

Dick & Jane Raymond

Eleanor Reeds & Adam Jacobs

Lindsey & Sam Reznicek

Randy & Barb Ruhter

Ryan & Julie Samuelson

Megan & Aaron Schardt

Joni Schnase

Jack & Lisa Schreiner

Chris & Colleen Schukei

Mike & Teresa Schukei

Mike & Roberta Seda

Mike & Nancy Spady

Hollie & Brad Stark

Matt & Staci Stritt

Jerrad & Sheri Stroh

Blake & Katie Thompson

Amanda & Kevin Turner

Mike & Christal Weeks

Philip & Colleen Werner

Lee & Diane Wigert

Kevin & Paige Wycoff

PROJECT SUPPORTERS

2013-2025

Since 2013, donors have come together to complete the vision of the Workshop Renewal. Thank you to these project individuals, families, and organizations who helped bring our vision to a reality.

PROJECT’S
INFLUENCE

  • PRESERVING HERITAGE

    The Workshop holds historical value, representing the legacy of the Hastings Regional Center farm. By preserving the original south end of the building, we are honoring local agricultural history while making the space functional for modern needs of Prairie Loft’s unique programs.

  • ONE-OF-A-KIND GATHERING SPACE

    The Workshop will serve as a vital hub for community events, providing a space unlike any other for meetings, retreats, and celebrations. Its flexible design allows it to host small and large gatherings, offering a much-needed venue for social connection and civic engagement.

  • ENHANCED PROGRAM OFFERINGS

    With expanded meeting spaces and improved amenities, the Workshop will enable Prairie Loft to increase the capacity and scope of its educational programs. This includes workshops, retreats, field trips, and summer camps that connect participants of all ages to agriculture, nature, and sustainability.

  • ECONOMIC & SOCIAL IMPACT

    The renovated Workshop will attract more visitors and users from Hastings and beyond, boosting local tourism and supporting the area's economy. It will also serve as a resource for local organizations, providing a low-cost, functional space for meetings and events.

  • SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

    The renovation will be carried out with a focus on sustainability, using energy-efficient climate control systems, insulation, and modern plumbing. The design incorporates the existing structure, reducing waste and environmental impact while creating a space that encourages agricultural appreciation and outdoor education.

  • LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

    The Workshop will stand as a symbol of how the past and future can coexist. By combining the original architecture with modern upgrades, we ensure the space will be an enduring resource for generations to come—fostering learning, connection, and appreciation for our important agricultural heritage.

YEARS OF DREAMS, COMING TO REALITY

  • BUILDING ADDITIONS COMPLETED JANUARY 2018

    Underground work
    PlumbingConcrete
    Framing
    Exterior finishes on West
    Bathroom Addition
    East Vestibule Addition

    Construction cost: $486,975

  • NORTH END
    COMPLETED JULY 2019

    Big R’s Commercial Kitchen
    Pershing Prairie Meeting Space
    Family Bathroom
    Upstairs Storage Area
    New Exterior Doors & Windows
    Temperature Control Systems

    Construction cost: $340,598

  • SOUTH END
    IN PROGRESS

    Foyer, large flexible meeting space with a garage door to connect the finished northern section to the rustic, original Workshop barn (south end), new bathrooms, exterior doors, windows, temperature control systems, insulation, sheet rock, plumbing, fixtures, surfaces, and interior finishes and furnishings.

    ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS: $532,437

Sequence of images showing the renovation of a building from 2009 to 2019, including an old barn, interior stages of renovation with dirt/gravel and concrete floors, storage room, transformed interior into a meeting room, former workshop, and finally a commercial kitchen.
A technical architectural plan overlay showing a building layout with rooms labeled, including restrooms, storage, mechanical rooms, and an entry canopy, combined with a 3D rendered interior view of a building interior with furniture and detailed room arrangements.

Questions? Reach out.

hello[at]prairieloft.org
(402) 463-0565
4705 DLD Road
Hastings, NE 68901