Grant and Felicia Heller are Rural by Choice (Courtesy photo)Grant Heller returned to the area he grew up in to practice chiropractic and after a year he purchased the Lincoln practice in 2014. His wife Felicia is a sales associate with Farm Bureau Financial Services in Lincoln. The couple both enjoy traveling the area rodeo circuit, Grant as a steer wrestler, and Felicia as a barrel racer. Their home near Vesper provides a great home base.
“I always wanted to practice in a rural area after growing up in Mitchell and Lincoln counties,” Grant said. “I looked into several different rural communities and counties in the state of Kansas and found that the main difference between Lincoln County and the others was the overwhelming outreach and support that I had received when researching whether to invest my business within the county. From communicating and working with local banks, leaders, economic development, the chamber and other organizations, I instantly felt welcomed as an integral part of the community.”
Grant says he and Felicia love the rural lifestyle, in large part because of the contributions of so many within the small communities.
“People here wear a lot of different hats serving as city council members, commissioners, public servants, volunteer firefighters, EMS crew, board members of various organizations and schools, often times while working a full-time job and raising a family,” Grant said. “They give back a lot of time and energy into their communities without expecting much in return, often times opening themselves up to criticism. I don’t think you see that in larger cities and demographics which goes to show how generous people truly are around here. It taught me that you always have more to give for your community even if all you have to give is a little bit of your time.”
Felicia grew up in the Omaha area, and Grant says she loves the rural lifestyle.
“Felicia appreciates the small, neighborly atmosphere where everyone knows your name,” Grant said. “While growing up, her family moved from Omaha to Wahoo, Nebraska, due to commercial and housing development. Within the last several years the new hospital has been built several miles from her parents family farm and a new Ford dealership has been built a mile down the road as housing development has followed. She enjoys Lincoln County as she no longer experiences ‘the urban sprawl.’”
