The Scottsbluff-Gering Chamber of Commerce Thursday night honored six community leaders for their work in helping the area thrive through their businesses and their leadership.

The Rising Superstar award went to Scotts Bluff County Board Chair Mark Masterton and Mayors Randy Meininger, Susan Wiedeman, and Kent Greenwalt for their cooperative efforts to pool resources, equipment ,staff and services, and creating partnerships with the school districts that have strengthened education as well. The four have promoted the Heartland Expressway and other community projects, including the Riverfront Development.

The Visionary Superstar award was presented to Harlan Brown with Brown Sheep Company. The company, begun in 1980, produces over 12 lines of yarn and over 1000 different colors which are distributed worldwide. The company was honored as the Nebraska Small Business of the year in 1987 and has been a great family business spanning over four generations.

The chamber's most prestigious award, the Trailblazer of the Year, was given to long-time businessman Travis Hiner. Hiner operated Hiner Farm Equipment, which expanded into three stores in Scottsbluff, Kimball and Torrington under his leadership. Hiner sold the business to Case in 1985, at which time he became very active in the community, serving on numerous boards and becoming an instrumental force in the effort to establish support through the region and in Washington for the Heartland Expressway.