SIOUX COUNTY, NEB. (March 29, 2007)—Michael Asa Kesselring, co-owner of High Plains Homestead, 16 miles north of Crawford, Neb., has been appointed to the nine-member Nebraska Tourism Advisory Committee by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s (DED) Travel and Tourism Division. He replaces Karla Niedan-Streaks who served on the committee for the past six years.

Kesselring and his wife, Linda, co-own the High Plains Homestead, a ranch-style “Bunk and Board” establishment that features the restored log cabin Drifter Cookshack and Bunkhouse, and a replicated Old West town that includes Dirty Creek Saloon, Badlands Mercantile, one-room Deep Creek School, and a working blacksmith shop and post office. He helped his parents, Merlin and Roberta Kesselring, develop and build the business, and assumed its ownership in 2005.

His professional affiliations and memberships include: Northwest Nebraska High Country, area chambers of commerce, Bridges to Buttes Byway, Indians and Pioneers Tourism and Marketing Group, West Nebraska Tourism Coalition and Intertribal Gathering.

“It is an exciting and adventurous time to be asked to serve on the Nebraska Tourism Advisory Committee as Nebraskans are just beginning to consider the possibilities of what we have to offer to the tourism industry,” Kesselring said.

The committee meets four times a year to brainstorm ideas and projects that increase Nebraska’s tourism traffic and meet the needs of its tourism industry. Christian Hornbaker, DED’s Travel and Tourism Division director, is pleased about the experience Kesselring brings to the committee.

“Michael is an excellent representative for our western Nebraska coalition by virtue of having lived there for a number of years, and being very comfortable and familiar with rural communities and the rural lifestyle,” Hornbaker said. “He’s in the position of not only having helped develop and build a tourism attraction from the ground up, but of maintaining and operating all aspects of it”.

High Plains Homestead has been featured in Nebraska Life, True West’s 2007 Best of the West, Western Lodging, and The Fence Post magazines. Its famous Indian Taco has been featured on The Food Network.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Christian Hornbaker at 402-471-3794, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or
Sarah Baker at 402-471-3797, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Both also can be reached at: 800-228-4307

Individuals who are hearing and/or speech impaired and have a TDD, may contact the department through the Statewide Relay System by calling one of the following numbers:
711, (800) 833- 7352 (TDD), or (800) 833-0920 (voice).
The relay operator should be asked to call DED at (800) 426-6505, or (402) 471-3111.