If you go back through past editions of the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, you’ll probably find an editorial similar to the one you’re reading right now.

Ellsworth has three major festivals during the summer — Fort Harker Days, the Wilson After-Harvest Czech Festival and Cowtown Days. At some point — usually after the celebrations — we set aside space to thank the many volunteers who gave so generously of their time and resources to make each one of those events a success.

This year’s Cowtown Days was an especially notable accomplishment. The photo at the end of this editorial answers the “why” question. It was a rainy day in Ellsworth and yet the parade went on — thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the determination of spectators to overcome the whims of Mother Nature and have a good time anyway.

Of course, the influence of volunteers goes way beyond Ellsworth County’s three major celebrations. The county’s senior centers and food pantries. Ellsworth County Cancer Fund. Ellsworth County Historical Society. Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation. The list goes on and on ...

To all of those volunteers — and the many others not mentioned here — Ellsworth County is a better place because of your work.