Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area is now accepting nominations for its 12th annual awards luncheon. Awards include the Billings Most Valuable Project Award, the Tacha Education Award, and the Theme Awards. Presented annually since 2013, FFNHA awards honor outstanding work and scholarship in the heritage area.
The Billings Most Valuable Project Award recognizes outstanding projects that advance FFNHA goals and adhere to FFNHA’s guiding principles. It is named for Judy Billings, Retired President and CEO of Destination Management, Inc., served as the founding Executive Director of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) from 2006 to 2012 and was instrumental in advocating for National Heritage Area designation.
The Tacha Education Award recognizes students who engage with the issues, ideas, people, and events related to FFNHA’s themes. It honors Deanell Reece Tacha, Retired Judge with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) from 2004-2010.
The three Theme Awards recognize partners with a nominated exhibit, program, or project specifically highlighting one of FFNHA’s three themes.
Nominations must be submitted by Oct. 7, 2025.
The November awards luncheon and partner meeting will be held Nov. 17, 2025.
Information and nomination forms can be found at freedomsfrontier.org/awards.
Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) builds awareness of struggles for freedom in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Established by Congress in 2006, FFNHA covers a unique physical and cultural landscape across 41 counties and 31,000 square miles. It promotes three diverse, interwoven, and nationally significant stories: frontier settlement, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and enduring civil rights disputes. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers area residents to preserve and share these stories, achieving its goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors. It is one of 62 federally recognized national heritage areas across the United States.