2023 POY Nominee The Jacksons

Fun for the kids
 
Some people wish there were more activities for kids, and some people make more activities for kids — and that’s exactly what Person of the Year nominees Billy and MacKenzie Jackson do for the Weston County community. 
 
With three kids of their own — Chesni, Will and Waylon — the Jacksons lead a very busy life, but that hasn’t stopped this young family from doing what they can to work hard and make the community fun — for people of all ages. 
 
“They care about making our community better than it was yesterday, and they put the work into making it better,” longtime friend Cassie Hayman said. “They don’t just talk about it, they do it. People like the Jacksons are the people that follow through and make a difference.” 
 
One of the projects they spearheaded this year was bringing back the youth rodeos. 
 
MacKenzie serves on the Weston County Friends of Fair and the Weston County Junior Rodeo boards, and her husband is a member of the fair board, so they’ve already been very involved with the gymkhanas and junior rodeos, but they wanted to do something more. 
 
“I think our community was lacking in opportunities for our young cowboys and cowgirls. Surrounding towns have been putting events on for years, and they are flooded with Newcastle contestants, and that is wonderful, but we needed something to be offered locally,” Hayman said. “I am so happy that the Jacksons noticed this and stepped up to make a change.” 
 
During the gymkhana, they watched many kids start out as timid and shy participants but gradually gain confidence toward the end. The Jacksons thought they could boost their confidence even more by extending their season and giving them a “spur up” for competition.
 
“We wanted to give them something sooner in the rodeo,” Billy said. “It gives the kids another option to do something.” 
 
According to Hayman, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to pull a rodeo together, but that became even more true when the Jacksons discovered that the indoor riding arena was unsafe. 
 
“They put countless hours into picking (up) rocks, working the ground to get it safe, and setting up for the event,” Hayman said. “They care about these young kids and their animals. They care about making a fun event for these kids to enjoy and their families to come and enjoy.” 
 
MacKenzie said she is grateful for all the sponsors who helped them put the youth rodeo series together. 
 
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. 
 

 
When the Jacksons aren’t at the fairgrounds, you can find them bracing the cold and volunteering their weekends at the local ice rink, grooming the ice, renting out skates and running the concession stand. 
 
“I always wanted an option to skate when I was kid, but we never really had it,” Billy said. 
 
A few years ago, he began building a backyard rink for his kids, so when the community decided to collaborate to form the Newcastle Ice Association, he jumped on board — literally — and now serves as president of that organization. 
 
His goal is to improve things more and more by bringing in various events, as well as implementing three-man hockey and figure skating. 
 
“We’re looking to grow bigger and better, and have more options for kids to do things,” he said. 
 
And just like the rodeo, working at the ice rink is a whole family affair. 
 
“Everything we do is intertwined with the kids,” he said. 
 
And if the rodeo and ice rink don’t keep them busy enough, Billy coaches Fall Guys wrestling while MacKenzie runs M-J Customs, does equine therapy and trains horses. The Jacksons both have full time jobs, and stay on top of the many boards the couple serves on.
 
“As someone who volunteers their time to a lot of community boards, I understand how much work it can be, and these two put the work into everything they help with,” Hayman said. 
 
Perhaps their love of family and this community is what drives them. Billy was raised in Weston County, but he traveled a lot due to his job and became a part of various communities across the country. However, nothing quite compared to his hometown. 
 
“I’ve always said this was home,” he said. “There’s some good communities out there, but nothing as fulfilling as this community.” 
 
MacKenzie, on the other hand, grew up in a small town in southwest Kansas, but she loved Weston County from her first visit when she came during her college years.
 
“I was like, ‘Wow, this is a neat place,’” she said. 
 
So in 2018, they decided it was time to move back and raise their family here, and their involvement in the community was evident from the beginning.
 
“Without community involvement, there wouldn’t be a community. Everyone wants activities for their families to do or sports for their kids to participate in, but it takes people stepping up and getting involved to keep them going,” Hayman said. “The Jacksons know that and are always there to lend a helping hand.” 
 
Billy said that community involvement is important to him to keep it from dying off. He hopes to do his part to improve in areas that can be improved upon with skill sets and dedication while still keeping “time-honored traditions, traditional.”
 
“They are amazing people and would give anyone the shirt off their back. I am proud to be friends with them and so happy to have people like them making our community better,” Hayman said. “I wish we had more people like the Jacksons in our community.