By Marisa Dawson, Photo Courtesy of City of Bennington

The City of Bennington, Nebraska, is launching a new Yard of the Month program this summer to celebrate residents who maintain beautiful and well-cared-for properties within city limits.

Running from May through September 2026, the initiative will select one standout yard each month based on its beauty, creativity, and care. Winners will receive a $50 gift card from a local Bennington business, along with bragging rights and a fun yard sign to display proudly.

Key details include:
– One yard may only win once per calendar year.
– Winners will be announced monthly from May–September 2026.
– All residential yards within the city limits are eligible.

Nomination details and full judging criteria will be released soon, with residents encouraged to start planning, planting, and enhancing their curb appeal.

Mayor Clint Adams discussed the inspiration behind the program in a recent interview. The idea originated from a friend, Nic Laue, who shared a link about a similar successful program in another small town. Adams explained: “They had a similar program in this small town that was a big hit. So he probably forwarded on to see if I might be interested in doing something like that. And of course I thought it was a great idea.”

After becoming mayor, Adams brought the concept forward as a way to “reward those that take good care of the property and hopefully inspire others to do the same.” He shared it is also a way to give back to local businesses from the gift cards they award. 

The program aims to recognize residents’ efforts and encourage greater pride in property maintenance. Adams hopes for strong participation: “The more the merrier! We’ll see how things kick off. I think in general there’s a lot of people that do take good care of their properties… Hopefully people take a little bit more pride in their properties and hope to get that sign in their yard.”

While still working on some of the details, selection will likely involve a committee, primarily starting with public works staff who drive around the city daily. When top picks are identified, a committee consisting of city employees and council members will make the final selection each month. To ensure fairness, only one yard per person can win per year, and city employees, including the mayor, are excluded.

Adams noted this appears to be a first for Bennington in recent memory. Beyond rewarding upkeep, the mayor sees broader community benefits: “It’s really another way for the city to engage with the public and the community. Just showing that our community is proud of what we have here and making things look nice for the community. I think it’s a good opportunity to interact with folks we might not normally interact with.”

He added that it will strengthen connections: “I think it’ll be good getting out there and… being able to support our local businesses. I think that would be a good thing that people will enjoy.”

The program will recognize a variety of yard styles, not limited to one type: “We’re not necessarily going to narrow in on just one type of yard. I think as long as it looks nice and unique, that it definitely has a shot at winning. It’s one of the reasons why we wanted to have a committee versus just one person selecting it. So we have a variety of viewpoints and tastes.”

Success, for Adams, would include positive reactions and appreciation from winners and the community: “I think seeing how people react to it, in terms of those that are getting their award, I would hope that they would be appreciative. We also plan on putting this out on social media and seeing people’s reactions to it. I think some of the reactions so far have been pretty positive.”

The signs are being donated by Felicia Weaver, Bennington Chamber President, with mock-ups already shared. Adams is looking forward to the program’s launch: “Just looking forward to getting started with that and seeing how things go with it.”

Residents can stay updated via the City of Bennington’s Facebook page or website as more details emerge. This initiative promises to add a touch of friendly competition and community pride to the summer season in Bennington.