McCook Rotary Hears Update on Work Ethic Camp from Warden Steve Fannon

McCook, Neb. - Warden Steve Fannon and Unit Manager Carolyn Sommer from the Nebraska Work Ethic Camp (WEC) visited with McCook Rotary for an informative presentation on the facility’s mission, operations, and community impact. The Work Ethic Camp, located just outside McCook, has evolved over the years into a unique correctional facility focused on rehabilitation, skill-building, and community service.

Rehabilitation and Reentry Focus

Warden Fannon emphasized that the Work Ethic Camp serves as a “finishing school” for incarcerated individuals nearing release. The minimum-security, male-only facility houses around 200 residents who typically arrive within two to three years of their scheduled release. Many have worked their way down from higher-security classifications through good behavior. The camp offers a wide range of programs including GED classes, drug and alcohol counseling, ServSafe certification, parenting courses, and vocational skills training such as DOT flagger certification and culinary safety.

Sommer highlighted the success of the camp’s “Five Keys” initiative, a curriculum that allows individuals to choose from various self-improvement courses, helping them take ownership of their growth and reentry plans. She noted that even with their challenging backgrounds, many of the residents engage meaningfully with these programs to better prepare for life after incarceration.

Community and Economic Impact

Beyond rehabilitation, the Work Ethic Camp has a substantial economic and community presence. Of the facility’s $9.5 million budget, nearly $6 million goes toward staff salaries, with the majority of employees living in McCook and Red Willow County. The camp partners with local businesses for services such as vehicle repairs and supplies, reinvesting those dollars into the local economy.

Perhaps most visible to the public is the facility’s road crew program. Incarcerated individuals contribute thousands of hours of labor annually on public works projects throughout the region, including park maintenance, city cleanup, and forestry service support. Since the camp’s opening in 2001, more than 500,000 hours of labor have been provided to area communities—work valued at over $7 million.

A Dedicated Team and Facility Evolution

Both Fannon and Sommer shared their personal journeys in corrections and how they’ve seen the facility evolve over the years. Originally opened as a sentencing alternative for first-time felony offenders, the camp now serves as a minimum-security, male-only facility focused on preparing individuals for reentry. Sommer, a veteran of the Work Ethic Camp since its earliest days, was recently named Supervisor of the Year by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Fannon closed the presentation by inviting Rotary members and community leaders to tour the facility and learn firsthand about its programs. He emphasized that the staff at WEC are not only corrections professionals but also community members, military veterans, and volunteers who care deeply about building safer, stronger communities.

➡️ Interested in joining Rotary?

McCook Rotary meets Tuesdays at noonfor lunch at the new Mid-Plains Community College East Campus. Each week features a wide variety of speakers and topics from across our community and beyond. Plus, Rotary clubs work together to make meaningful projects happen around the world. Guests are always welcome—come check it out!