Wyatts Selected As 2018 Tilden Outstanding Citizens

Darrel and Georgia Wyatt are known by almost everyone in Tilden for their kindness and pride for the community.

The Wyatts can be seen helping out at almost any event happening in town, and Darrel is a council member on the Tilden City Council.

This year, the community thought that they deserved to be recognized for their efforts.

Darrel and Georgia Wyatt were selected by The Tilden Bank to be recipients of the 2018 Tilden Outstanding Citizens Award. Nominees for the award were selected by the public for their countless efforts and energy they put forth to the community.

Although Darrel had been nominated multiple times in the past, Georgia said that they didn’t see the award coming.

“We were surprised, and it makes you feel good that you realize that people appreciate you,” she said.

Georgia went on to say that making a difference in the community is what drives them to give back their time and effort to Tilden.

“A lot of things you do you just do because you love the community and you want to make a difference,” Georgia said. “I feel like, if God gives you a talent, that you are supposed to use it to make a difference.”

Darrel said that what keeps him going is simple: the people.

“I like to do it. I like people,” he said.

Georgia, who is partially responsible for the start of Prairie Days in 2004, said that this year tested the future of the celebration. After putting an article in the paper as a call to action for volunteers, Molly Navratil and Larissa Frey stepped up to help, and Georgia said their efforts were incredible.

“I put an article in the paper that said ‘To have or to not have Prairie Days,’ because we needed the help, and two young ladies stepped forward to help, and they were fantastic,” Georgia said.

She said the efforts by those in the community that came forward to help with the celebration opened up the possibilities of Prairie Days.

“It was very encouraging this year,” Georgia said. “There were many different groups that took it upon themselves to handle and do the event, and that took a lot of pressure off of us.”

After seeing the success of Prairie Days and the community pull together after a storm almost jeopardized the celebration, Georgia said she hopes that pride will continue into the future.

“I hope it goes on. It’s amazing seeing everyone so involved and showing so much pride in the community.”