Absolutely YOUnique Boutique owners earn Colfax Main Street Leadership Award

Two Colfax residents have recently been announced as the Colfax Main Street Leadership Award recipients.

Nikki Stravers and and Tammi Schwickerath, sisters and co-owners of Absolutely YOUnique Boutique, were recently awarded the honors. The sisters, natives of Prairie City, were instrumental with coming up with ideas for and executing events such as Mineral Springs Days and Fall4Colfax.

Stravers said they were just trying to help the community out, and had no idea about the award.

“We were very surprised for even being nominated. We didn’t know that was something we could do,” Stravers said. “We just love helping the town. The whole point of us getting more involved was to get more and more people into downtown Colfax.”

In addition, the sisters spearheaded the efforts of the downtown farmer’s market last year. Regarding Mineral Springs Days, the sisters just wanted to see a bigger turnout and thus agreed to contribute to that event.

“We decided to be forthcoming and say ‘we’re willing to help you to make it better so you have a bigger turnout,’” Stravers said. “We just want to make Colfax a better place for people to congregate. We want to give people a purpose to come downtown.”

The leadership award is an award each Main Street Iowa program gives out to a volunteer that shows outstanding leadership throughout the year. In 2018, two people from Colfax were selected from that board, said Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson.

Patterson said they took the lead in planning many Colfax events, and had many connections to several vendors.

“They’re really enthusiastic about Colfax Main Street. They love the community of Colfax, and they’re not even from here originally,” Patterson said. “Last year, they took the lead on planning activities for Mineral Springs Days and took the lead for a program called Fall4Colfax.”

Those who received the award from their Main Street communities were honored at an event by Main Street Iowa March 8 where Gov. Kim Reynolds announced each winner. Although the sisters were not present at that event, but they said they still feel very honored for the award.

“We were very touched,” Stravers said. “Tammi and I are not out to get an award. We don’t want any recognition. It was so kind of them to do. We just want to be able to give them suggestions.”

Contact Orrin Shawl at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or at oshawl@newtondailynews.com