Local Rotarians Debbie Aragon and Todd Carr were recognized at the 2026 Rotary District 5440 conference, which was held in Fort Collins June 5-7.

District 5440 is one of Rotary’s largest districts, encompassing 2,500 Rotarians from 53 clubs in Wyoming, Northern Colorado, Nebraska, and one club from Idaho. Aragon, president of the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs, was recognized as the “large club” President of the Year while Carr, who is president of the Ski Town USA Rotary Club, was honored as “small club” President of the Year.

“It was very humbling — I mean, very humbling — and very surprising,” Aragon said of receiving the award. “My goal was to improve and increase membership, but everybody else jumped on board, so the new members coming in weren’t all my doing.”

She credited the board and other members for getting on the bandwagon and working toward the same goal.

“It all came to fruition,” Aragon said. “I feel like as president I could have done a whole lot more as far as more fundraising events, but it was an honor to be recognized for membership gains.”

While increased membership may have helped Aragon win the honor, she said the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs — now in its 52nd year — is dedicated to the community it serves and continues with events like the LobsterFest, which raised close to $250,000 to support the efforts of Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide in 2026.

Other events the club leads is the flower barrel program, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, youth exchanges and service trips, scholarships and grants to local 501(c)3 organizations.

“Our primary fundraisers include LobsterFest, which raised close to $250,000 last year for REPS and then our flower barrels program, which was just completed,” said Dan Austin, public relations chair for the club. “We sold close to 250 flower barrels and baskets with all of those proceeds going right back into the community in the form of grants and support.”

Todd Carr was also honored at the district conference for his efforts with the Ski Town USA Rotary Club, which is also based in Steamboat Springs and meets at 7 a.m. every Tuesday. The club has been around for more than 50 years.

Both Aragon and Carr were recognized for their efforts to grow membership in Steamboat Springs. The Rotary Club of Steamboat has grown from 86 members to 102 members as of June 1, an increase of 16 new members, or an 18.6% increase, under Aragon’s presidency. The Ski Town USA Rotary Club has also seen growth under Carr’s leadership, something he said has seen steady increases since the end of COVID-19.

For Carr the choice to join Ski Town USA Rotary Club was an extension of his childhood growing up in Dubuque, Iowa.

“My parents were always involved in festivals, fundraisers and helping people out that needed a helping hand,” Carr said. “There were groups in Iowa that specifically had programs that supported the youth, elderly and veterans … Rotary is the closest thing I could find to that. It reminded me of my experience as a kid growing up, where small, neighborhood and community-based efforts make a difference by helping and supporting people. Rotary is just a great way to give back.”