{"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":"https:\/\/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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C227&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C92&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C471&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C942&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-1-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1256&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C191&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C77&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C395&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C791&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-2-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1055&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C152&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C61&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C315&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C629&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-3-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C839&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=283%2C260&amp;ssl=1 283w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C138&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C705&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1410&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-4-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1880&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C236&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C96&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C490&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C981&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-5-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1308&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C170&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C69&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C352&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C704&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-6-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C939&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C164&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C66&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C340&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C680&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-7-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C906&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=318%2C260&amp;ssl=1 318w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C123&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C627&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1255&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-8-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1673&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1027&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-9-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1369&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=370%2C248&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=150%2C101&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?resize=768%2C515&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-10.jpg?w=1145&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=370%2C260&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=150%2C105&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?resize=768%2C538&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banquet-11.jpg?w=1096&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 878w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=223%2C260&amp;ssl=1 223w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=129%2C150&amp;ssl=1 129w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C895&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1317%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1317w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-12-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1757%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C158&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C64&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C328&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C655&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banquet-13-of-13-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C874&amp;ssl=1 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&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93806"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93824,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93806\/revisions\/93824"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/93815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}