Brookfield Partnership

Today we celebrated a special tradition at the BHS Mailbox Ceremony in the high school gymnasium, honoring our 2026 graduating seniors.

For 20 years, the Brookfield Area Growth Partnership (BAGP) has welcomed our seniors with a simple but meaningful message—there’s always a place for you back home. Each graduate received their own mailbox as a reminder that no matter where life takes them, this community will always be here.

“Who says you can’t come home?”

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We’re proud of you and excited for what’s ahead.

Congratulations to Greg Buckallew, Steve Haag, and Jeff Roe, the 2026 BHS Hall of Fame inductees.

The public is invited to attend the BHS Hall of Fame induction 2026, on Friday, May 1, at 8:00 a.m. in the high school gymnasium with a reception in the media center to follow. Please plan to attend to congratulate and honor these new recipients. All are welcome.

It was a great day at the Grand River Welding Institute with Leadership Northwest Missouri. We focused on entrepreneurship and the core practice of challenging the process, with a full agenda and strong discussions throughout the day.

The Leadership Northwest Missouri class met in Brookfield, bringing together leaders from across Northwest Missouri representing a variety of communities, organizations, and industries. Experiences like this continue to strengthen leadership across our region and highlight the value of investing in local leaders.

The class also took part in a Brookfield scavenger hunt, exploring downtown, connecting with locals, and sharing positive messages along the way.

Thank you to Eric Adams (Owner of Grand River Welding Institute), Brandon Roberts (City Manager), Marcia Cunningham, Becky Cleveland, and Nathan Stufflebean for sharing your time and insight. A special thank you to Dr. Tim Crowley for leading an impactful session on The Leadership Challenge.

Also, thank you to Kendra Pickering (Director of Leadership NW), Shelbie Alexander, Ashley Pittman, Morgan Jones, and Cheyenne Graff for planning and coordinating the session.

Appreciate everyone who helped make the day a success.

We’re honored to name Carrie Baker as BAGP’s Citizen & Philanthropist of the Year. Thank you for your generosity and dedication to our community!

We are proud to recognize Carrie Baker of First Class Properties on being named Citizen & Philanthropist of the Year by BAGP.
Carrie’s dedication to our community goes far beyond real estate. From providing coats to those in need, organizing food-filled backpacks for children, supporting local 4-H youth through scholarships, contributing to holiday toy drives, and giving back to the Betterment of Brookfield Committee—her impact is truly inspiring.
This honor reflects the heart, generosity, and commitment she brings to everything she does.
Congratulations, Carrie, on this well-deserved recognition. We are proud to have you representing First Class Properties and serving our community with excellence.

Sometimes the most deserving people are the ones who say they aren’t. Congratulations, Carrie. ❤️

17 community leaders graduated from the 36/5 Leadership Development Academy on March 4. For the past 6 months, the participants learned about the cities of Brookfield and Marceline, their personal leadership styles, the importance of volunteerism and community partnerships, the Main Street Programs of Brookfield and Marceline, the ins and outs of entrepreneurship, the importance of human conversations and the power of listening.

Over the past 20 years, 297 citizens have participated in the Leadership Development Academy.

Please join us in congratulating the most recent graduates!

We switched things up for this month’s Partnership Board of Directors meeting and gathered at The Clubhouse, thanks to owner Brooke Ashley for hosting us. It was a productive meeting with local leaders, and we wrapped up by taking a little time to relax and enjoy the space together.

Thank you to Brookfield Family Restaurant for providing lunch and to Savana Coke for delivering it straight to our meeting. We’re grateful for partners who help keep our work and our community, moving forward.

Great Northwest Days at the Capitol brings together regional leaders to highlight the strengths and priorities of Northwest Missouri. Representatives from Linn County will be in attendance to showcase Brookfield, Laclede, and Marceline, sharing the unique character, collaboration, and opportunity that define these communities and support a strong future for the region.