Fair Board Members

  • Chadd Jacobson, President (2014)

  • Clark Nelson, Vice President (1999)

  • Rich Waller, Treasurer (1987)

  • Becky Harris, Secretary (2014)

  • Dan Taylor (2013)

  • Kyle Edgren (2012)

  • Tyler Freeland (2013)

  • Pokey Green (2019)

  • Lyle Kinnaman (2020)

  • Joe Larson (2013)

  • Heath Robinson (2024)

  • Kathy Wilkins (2023)

  • Morgan Wohlgemuth – 4-H Council Representative

The Phelps County Ag Society Board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Education Room.

Staff

  • Elaine Redfern, office manager

  • Shelly Stump, office manager

  • Matt McHenry, groundkeeper

About

The Phelps County Agricultural Society was established in 1932 and is a 501c5 nonprofit organization. In its early days, the Ag Society hosted the county fair in downtown Holdrege. In the early 1950s, the fair moved to its current location at 1308 Second Street. In 1974, the county constructed the main Ag Society building, and soon thereafter built an addition. The Phelps County Ag Society is responsible for maintaining the facility and the entire grounds and receives some tax income from the county to do so. The remainder of the Ag Society’s budget comes from rental income.

Today, the 29,700-square-foot-facility serves as Phelps County’s primary convention and large event space, ensuring access to safe, functional venues for meetings, celebrations, and large community gatherings. The facility is rented nearly 200 days a year. In 2025,

77 of those rental days were granted free of charge for events like blood drives, food pantry packing days, a community Thanksgiving meal, 4-H meetings and programs, and medical benefits. The Ag Society also provides free use of the grounds to Holdrege Legion Baseball and Holdrege High School baseball.

Current tenants at the Phelps County Ag Society are Phelps County Extension (free), Phelps County Driver’s License Examination (free), Department of Water, Energy and Environment, and Kiddie Cove Family Child Care Center.

The Ag Society grounds are also home to Holdrege Legion Baseball and Holdrege High School Baseball, Livestock Arena and four animal barns, Concession Stand, Commercial Building and FFA Building.