{"id":93806,"date":"2026-01-28T09:58:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=93806"},"modified":"2026-01-28T11:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T17:34:24","slug":"chamber-in-hays-recognizes-businesses-and-volunteers-for-community-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=93806","title":{"rendered":"Chamber in Hays recognizes businesses and volunteers for community impact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By RORY MOORE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chamber in Hays recognized small businesses and nonprofits for their work supporting the Hays community on Tuesday at the 41st annual Chamber Awards Banquet inside the Memorial Union Ballroom. Eight award winners were honored for their economic impact and volunteer service among 545 Chamber members.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"484\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93812\" data-id=\"93812\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C628 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C227 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C92 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C471 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C942 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1256 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The FHSU Pep Band greets the sponsors and award winners with the Fort Hays fight song. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"407\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93809\" data-id=\"93809\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C527 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C191 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C77 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C395 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C791 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1055 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Ben Schears opens the 41st annual Chamber Awards Banquet with a speech.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"324\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93811\" data-id=\"93811\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C420 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C152 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C61 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C315 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C629 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C839 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Praying before the Hays Chamber hosts the banquet. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"725\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93808\" data-id=\"93808\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C940 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=283%2C260 283w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C138 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C705 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1410 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1880 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Chamber Vice President of Membership Leigh Purdy speaking. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"505\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93810\" data-id=\"93810\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C654 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C236 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C96 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C490 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C981 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1308 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Award sponsors listening to a speech.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"363\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93807\" data-id=\"93807\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C470 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C170 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C69 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C352 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C704 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C939 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Creek Side Resort owner Aaron Dreher engages chamber members in an activity. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"349\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93818\" data-id=\"93818\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C453 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C164 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C66 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C340 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C680 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C906 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Reflecting on all businesses&#8217; efforts on keeping the Hays economy going. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"646\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93819\" data-id=\"93819\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C646\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C837 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=318%2C260 318w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C123 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C627 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1255 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1673 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Receiving applause and walking to the stage to collect an award.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"528\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93814\" data-id=\"93814\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C685 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C513 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1027 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1369 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Hays Veterinary Hospital won the City of Hays Small Business Achievement award. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"530\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93821\" data-id=\"93821\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=790%2C530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=1024%2C687 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=370%2C248 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=150%2C101 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=768%2C515 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?w=1145 1145w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The family of the late Sgt. Scott Heimann collects the posthumous Nex-Tech Citizen of the Year award. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"554\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93820\" data-id=\"93820\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=790%2C554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=1024%2C718 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=370%2C260 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=150%2C105 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=768%2C538 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?w=1096 1096w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Marley Dechant won the Chamber&#8217;s Got Talent award and $50 for her dance video. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"921\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93813\" data-id=\"93813\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=878%2C1024 878w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=223%2C260 223w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=129%2C150 129w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C895 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1317%2C1536 1317w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1757%2C2048 1757w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=1580 1580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Innovation Center board chair Clare Gustin received the Golden Belt Bank Hall of Fame Award.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"337\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-93815\" data-id=\"93815\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13.jpg?resize=790%2C337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C437 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C158 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C64 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C328 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C655 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C874 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The award winners from the Chamber Banquet Awards.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Hays Chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger said it is challenging to choose winners due to the sheer number of deserving businesses, nonprofits and individuals who are nominated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur chamber is very blessed to have a lot of great members who support us,\u201d Wasinger said. \u201cOur chamber is only as strong as all of the businesses that support us because we\u2019re completely funded by them. We received 50 nominations this year, and it was a difficult job for our nominating committee to narrow that down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wasinger emphasized how every member made a difference in driving the Hays economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnytime anybody has the courage to open up a small business, it makes a positive impact on our community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt shows people that if you take a chance on yourself, anything is possible and it gives us more choices in our community, and the more we support one another, the stronger we get.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, who lost his life in the line of duty last year, was posthumously awarded Nex-Tech Citizen of the Year, and his family collected the award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSgt. Heimann\u2019s award was a particularly special component for tonight,\u201d Wasigner said. \u201cHis experience brought our community together in a lot of special ways that I don\u2019t think people anticipated. We were blessed that so many of his family members and the police department were here to honor him. In general, you look at all the people who were honored tonight, and they\u2019re the people who make our community great, so we\u2019re just thankful for all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A full list of winners and more information about the Chamber can be found at <a href=\"https:\/\/hayschamber.com\/\">https:\/\/hayschamber.com\/<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By RORY MOORE Tiger Media Network The Chamber in Hays recognized small businesses and nonprofits for their work supporting the Hays community on Tuesday at&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":93815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3397,11],"tags":[16516,16515,15033,15700],"class_list":["post-93806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-area-news","category-news","tag-chamber-awards-banquet","tag-chamber-in-hays","tag-hays-chamber","tag-rory-moore"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1092","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93806"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93824,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93806\/revisions\/93824"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/93815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}