Jeff was born and raised in Mitchell with Ashley growing up in Rapid City. The Sands have been married for nine years and have three children: Max (8), Eva (5), and Von (1). Ashley is currently in her 8th year of teaching at Gertie Belle Rogers. Jeff was a teacher and coach for ten years then turned Entrepreneur! Family is very important to Ashley and Jeff, as quality time spent together with their family is the best way to make memories. During their free time, you will find them going on adventures creating memories with their children, spending time on the Missouri River, attending sporting events and concerts, and finding ways to create positive experiences for the youth within the Mitchell community. Helping to make Mitchell the best community is a passion for the Sands. The Sand family is actively involved with Big Friend Little Friend. They serve as a family match for a very special young man in the community as well as Ashley serves as a school-based mentor for the organization. Jeff created Empower Our Educators, Inc. a non-profit to help support and recognize educators in the Mitchell Public School District. Both help coach youth sports. Jeff's mother, Cathy, worked at LifeQuest for 20 years. Jeff started volunteering at LifeQuest while attending Mitchell High School over 20 years ago. Jeff ultimately made an amazing connection with Carney Petrik, a long-time client of MAATC (LIfeQuest). Jeff later became Carney's advocate. Ashley had the chance to form a special bond with Carney and asked him to serve as an usher in their wedding nine years ago. Carney passed away in 2016, but his legacy lives forever.

“We have been waiting a decade to be asked to do this! Great cause, great organization, great people, great event!”, stated Carrie. Now, we know Carrie was exaggerating a bit, as the Dancing for Dreams event only just started in 2019, but her enthusiasm for participating in the event has not gone unnoticed! Wonder if Matt is as excited as Carrie? Carrie serves as a current LifeQuest Board Member and is the sole proprietor of her own interior design business, Color Wheel Homes. Matt has been serving Northwestern Mutual clients in Mitchell for the past five years as a Financial Advisor. Matt contributes to the community with his involvement as a Prehistoric Indian Village Board Member, Treasurer of the Mitchell Music Boosters, and announcing Mitchell Kernel basketball games at the World’s Only Corn Palace. Decorating, exercising, and LEGOS are Carrie’s life hobbies and interests. Matt enjoys spending his free time golfing and watching soccer. Both love traveling and attending the Mitchell Area Community Theater productions. Matt, a native of Mitchell and Carrie, originally from Hurley, SD, have five children: Bailey Sprinkel, Nigel English, Delaney English, Logan Culhane and Quinn Culhane; along with two grandchildren: Emmett and Addie Sprinkel.

Audra and Nathan met while attending Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD. Now, after nearly 25 years of marriage, they have entered a new chapter of their lives as their children have grown and starting their career or attending college. They have joined the ‘empty nest club’! Raised in Miller, SD, Audra owns a cleaning business. For the last 10 years, Audra has cleaned private residences and local businesses. When she has time to herself, you will find Audra cooking, spending time with family and friends and doing anything outdoors such as hiking, biking, and kayaking. Nathan grew up in Armour, SD and for the last 20 years he has served as VP Loan Production Officer for Dakota Mac, a division of First Dakota National Bank in Mitchell. Nathan can also be found outside doing the activities he enjoys such as hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, and golfing. He is an active member of the community serving as a member of the Mitchell Baseball Association, Mitchell Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, Holy Family Church Finance Council and St. John Paul II Education Advisory Committee and the South Dakota Ag & Rural Leadership Foundation. The Sparks have four children: Logan (21) homebuilder, Watertown; Lauren (20) nursing student at USF. Sioux Falls; Brandon (18) Land Surveyor/Civil Engineering student at Southeast Tech, Sioux Falls; and Brock (18) Mitchell Tech student in Electrical Construction and Maintenance program, Mitchell.

Hilary grew up in northeastern Wyoming, where being called ‘West River’ is a compliment and ‘East River’ an insult. She attended college, medical school and residency in Nebraska and met Nick the old-fashioned way (at a bar) during residency. Nick grew up in Waverly, Nebraska, just outside of Lincoln and attended UNL. They married in 2008 and over the past 14 years, have moved seven times and have had four dogs. The Rockwells have four children: Bree (12); Calvin (11); Khloe (10); and Chase (7). Dr. Hilary has been a physician for the past 17 years, 8 ½ years right here in Mitchell. She currently serves as the incoming Regional President for Avera Queen of Peace; a board member for the Mitchell United way; Avera Queen of Peace Board member and a youth softball coach. For the past 20 years, Nick has worked as a stay-at-home Dad and as the owner and carpenter for his own building construction company, Rockwell Construction. During Nick’s free time, he can be found golfing, fishing, hunting, playing sports, watching sports, and cheering on the Husker and ‘Da Bears’ football teams. When asked why they agreed to participate in the D4D event, the Rockwells stated, “We see LifeQuest as an important and amazing resource in our community. Not every community has this type of program or service and the employees of LifeQuest do such a fantastic job. We are happy to contribute to its success in any way we can.”

Laura grew up in Yankton and Nick in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. They met in Aberdeen, SD when they both worked for the clothing store, Glik’s which ultimately brought them to Mitchell. They have two children: 7 yr. old son, Nixon and 5 yr. old daughter, Maddox. Spending time as a family and watching their children learn and grow is what brings them the most joy! For the past ten years, Laura has been a third-grade teacher at Longfellow Elementary in Mitchell. She is involved with their church and a volunteer youth soccer coach. For the past two years, Laura has served as a coach for Girls on the Run, a youth development program through the non-profit organization, Embe. Laura enjoys reading and painting the interior of their home to ‘change it up’. Nick has held various career positions within the Mitchell community with his most recent and current position as the Director of Foundation Relations at Mitchell Technical College for the past year and a half. Nick is an avid waterfowl hunter, a member of the Mitchell Area Charitable Foundation, Junior Achievement teacher and a volunteer youth soccer coach. Nick served as a judge for last year’s Dancing for Dreams event while Laura’s uncle Dennis Broz was a part of the Life Quest community for years. Laura knows employees that still work for LifeQuest and served her uncle. The Bakhtiari’s love helping people any way they can and wanted to be a part of this fun event that raises money for such a great cause!

Jacey grew up in Hartford and Wade in Huron. Together they live on an acreage near Mt. Vernon and own and operate Jolly Acres Tree Farm. Full-time, Wade is employed at Bayer Crop Science as a Customer Business Advisor and Jacey is a second- grade teacher at Mitchell’s Longfellow Elementary School. Wade enjoys hunting and is a co-founder of BOS Fund which is a Mt. Vernon based community fund supporting locals in need and with community improvement. In Jacey’s free time she enjoys traveling, attending country music concerts, reading, and participating in women’s league volleyball. Wade and Jacey both agree that they could not be more excited to be part of such a fun and impactful event!