Friends and Neighbors: The Gillmings

If working full time, running your own business and raising two healthy and very active sons (Aaron, 10 and Kip, 7) weren't enough, Josh and Jenny Gillming offer this community many hours of service through volunteerism.

Jennifer (Cederburg) was born, raised and graduated high school in this community, while Josh, graduated from Burwell, then moved here with his parents in 1999.

In August of that same year, Josh began basic training for the U.S. Army in Benning, Ga., and after that, AIT training in Alabama.

When he returned home to Kimball he met Jenny at the Gotte Park, and decided he wanted to start a courtship with her.

They decided to get married 11 days after the infamous 9/11 event in 2001 after dating for a year and a half. They will celebrate their 15th anniversary this year.

The man, being in the Army Reserves, was called up to deploy after the events that took place on 9/11.

"Being in the Army Reserves we get two phone calls to deploy," explained Josh, "I got the first one saying, 'Pack your bags, and leave them in your car!' The next call means you have eight hours to get to Kearney, where my unit was based out of."

The couple has many interests in which they support one another, but they found the time to do something enjoyable together as well.

"Jenny and I started bowling on leagues on Sunday night this last year and have really been enjoying ourselves," Josh said.

Jenny enjoys being involved in leading the K-B Puppy's Lover's 4-H Club and has been the leader of the club since her junior year of high school.

Jenny explained that she volunteers for the 4-H program because she enjoys seeing the kids grow and watching their accomplishments over the years that they are involved in the club.

"The 4-H program teaches essential skills that the kids will use their whole life," she said, "such as teamwork, communication skills and community service."

The club was started in 1990, by Tim and Pam Anderson but for the last 17 years Jenny has been a leader, even from the opposite end of the state.

"I left for college in 2001 and returned to Kimball in 2003 and the club was dying because no one took it over while I was gone for college," she said. "The extension office would give kids my phone number, and I would try and help them but it wasn't easy because I was seven hours away in Fremont at Banner College of Hair design."

She added that she did what she could while out of the area, and when she returned from college she revived the still up-and-running club.

"I have had helpers off and on throughout the years," she continued. "My older sister Danessa Terrill has been involved for 3 years and comes to practice when time allows and she is at fair to help every year. Tim Anderson has been at every fair for the past 26 years and he acts as our ring showman and announcer. I even still call him for advice once in a while."

Former members also volunteer their time when they are home from college, including Nichelle Whetham, Jodell Schulte and Sarah Meyer.

"Also all the kids' parents have always been a big help," she said. "I train the kids in obedience which contains your basic commands come, sit and stay. As they move up in levels advanced training is involved. Also showmanship classes, in which the kids learn proper grooming of their animal. They have to learn five different patterns for fair. During fair the judge is not only watching how well the dog minds but how well the child works with their dog as a team."

The time and energy Jenny has put into the organization and the club have rewarded her as well.

"It has been an amazing experience, as a leader, to watch the kids achieve their goals and grow with their dogs. I still have former 4-H members that will come up to me and tell me of their favorite experiences and struggles over the years they were in the dog club."

Josh is also a volunteer leader in the community, as the leader for the local Cub Scout pack, something he became interested when their oldest son, Aaron, started first grade. Through a conversation with Joel Linn, he found that the Pack #31, was one of the oldest continually chartered pack in the area, but that it needed revitalized.

Josh was instrumental in getting the pack up and moving again and now has the title of Cub Master for the boys' organization.

"Jenny and I talked," he said, "and since I was in scouts growing up in Elwood, I knew what my boys would be missing out on if we didn't get involved."

This is Josh's fifth year involved in scouts in our community.

"Both boys (Aaron and Kip) have joined and enjoy it as much as I did, but I have not done it alone," he stated, "Parental involvement on this level of scouting is very important! I tell the parents it's like holding eight ping pong balls under water with only one hand. I have had great help each year from parents and other adults, as well."

Gillming invites anyone, even if you are not a parent or grandparent of a scout, to help by volunteering your time to mentor these young people.

"I help my husband with the cub scout program because my kids are involved," Jenny added. "I try to support my husband in what he does. What we enjoy the most in everything we do is making a difference in someone's life, whether it be big or small!"

Additionally, Josh will offer a bow hunter education class in Kimball on April 2 and April 3, at the James L. Eatmon Masonic Lodge.

"Four years ago I bought my first compound bow. I have hunted and fished my entire life and wanted to get into bow hunting so my childhood friend and I could hunt together," he said. "I had helped Nebraska Game and Parks put on their expo the spring of 2014, and met quite a few instructors that really pushed me to get certified to teach hunter/bowhunter education."

Once he completed the bow hunter education course, he decided to bring the training closer to home.

"Kimball didn't have a bow hunter education instructor so I had to drive to Alliance to get my training. I drove up there two days to get certified," he said. "I thought it was silly for Kimball residents to have to drive one and a half hours each way, for ten hours of training just so they could hunt."

Pre-registration is required for anyone interested in the bow hunter education class. To register or for more information, contact Josh by call or text, at 307-274-0895, email him at [email protected], or you can sign up for the course via the internet at http://www.outdoorNebraska.gov and search for Kimball and/or April 2.

The bow hunter education course is required in the State of Nebraska for all hunters ages 12 through 29 who hunt deer, elk, antelope, or mountain sheep with bow and arrow, or a crossbow. Bow hunters must carry proof of successful completion of this course while you are hunting.