04/18/2026
Today, April 18, 2026, marks 80 years of the Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District and the vision of Harry Strunk and others changed southwest Nebraska forever.
Following the devastating Republican River flood of 1935, the Republican Valley Conservation Association was formed with a bold idea: protect the valley from flooding while building a reliable irrigation system to support agriculture and communities. With the leadership and determination of Harry Strunk and many other strong leaders across the basin, that vision became reality.
The development of flood control and irrigation infrastructure sparked an economic boom for McCook and surrounding communities. At the same time, it provided critical flood protection for thousands of acres from Trenton, Nebraska, all the way to Junction City, Kansas.
Within just a 25-mile radius of McCook, more than 50,000 acres were converted to irrigation under three separate irrigation districts: Frenchman Valley Irrigation District, H&RW Irrigation District, and the Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District.
The very first Board of Directors—pictured here—represented some of the strongest leadership this region has ever seen. Among them was Don Thompson, who later served as a Nebraska State Senator and Speaker of the House in 1961–1962. FCID’s attorney, Frank Morrison, went on to serve as Governor of Nebraska from 1961 to 1967.
Eighty years later, we continue to build on their legacy—delivering water, supporting agriculture, and protecting our communities.
Here’s to the next 80 years.
