board of directors
Dale Dickkut grew up on a farm in central Iowa where he learned the importance of hard work and the value of planning each day’s events. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1971. During his career he worked for Mobil Oil Corporation, Ralston Purina and Continental Grain in Sales and Production Management plus formed his own company reclaiming materials from old buildings. Dale tried full retirement for 2 weeks and found he could not be non-productive. Since retiring he maintains a Real Estate License, dabbles in new home construction and is active as a volunteer in Brownville. He and his wife Diana have been married 55 years and have 3 children and 7 granddaughters. Dale and Peggy Groff are the two original founders of BECAH.
Peggy Groff is a product of the early 1950’s who grew up on a small farm southwest of Nebraska City. She graduated from Peru State College and has lived in the area ever since, with over 40 years of work experience at Peru State College. She and her husband have four grown children and have been blessed with grandchildren. A long-time Brownville supporter, she currently serves as President of Brownville Fine Arts Association,
which has provided her with opportunities to grow lasting friendships with people in the community and meet more new people than she can count.
Peggy joined Dale Dickutt as a co-founder of the 501(c)3 that purchased the former Antiquarium
Bookstore. That was the beginning of the Brownville Education Center for Arts & Humanities. She is proud of what BECAH has accomplished and looks forward to watching the vision unfold.
In addition to being engaged with Brownville programs and activities, she serves on other boards and committees in Southeast Nebraska. Her free time is spent with family, volunteering, and reading books.
Ron Heskett is a fifth-generation farmer, still living on the same farm that he was raised on southwest of Brownville. After graduating from University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Natural Resource major, Ron spent about 30 years traditional farming. In 2000 he planted about 640 grape vines as an alternative crop. When Whiskey Run Creek Winery opened in 2002, Ron started helping the original owner, Bob Curttright, part time and then became full time winemaker. Ron exited the traditional farming scene in 2004 and continued expanding the vineyard, which currently consists of about 5,000 vines divided among fourteen cultivars. After Bob’s passing, Ron continued managing the winery and in 2012 he and his wife purchased the winery. Reviewing the property abstracts, Ron discovered that his great-great grandfather, Samuel S. Lawrence, was previous owner of two lots where the brewery cave was built in 1866 by Conrad
Schreiner. Ron and Sherry have three grown children, Heather, Amanda, and Matthew.
