HOLDREGE — The Phelps County Visitors Committee (PCVC) celebrated those helping shape tourism in the county during its second annual Visit37 Tourism Awards Reception on May 20 at Lost Way Brewery.
The Visit 37 Tourism Awards recognize the individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact on tourism in Phelps County, promoting local attractions and creating community pride.
“We’re excited to present these awards to recognize the amazing things already happening in our communities and to inspire even more creativity, collaboration, and pride in Phelps County’s tourism potential,” PCVC Coordinator Kristine Jacobson said. “Tourism grows through community effort, and these award winners represent the passion, hospitality and collaboration that continue to move Phelps County forward.”
Tourism continues to play an important role in Nebraska’s economy. Tourism is a $4.6 billion industry statewide, supporting more than 41,000 jobs. In Phelps County, direct travel spending reached $9.1 million in 2024 and supports 103 local jobs.
Award recipients were selected through community nominations, followed by voting conducted by the PCVC committee and previous award recipients.
Friend of Tourism
The 2025 Friend of Tourism Award was presented to Rebecca Anderson of Holdrege for her extensive volunteer leadership and dedication to community events and organizations.
Anderson serves as president of the Iron Horse Arts District and treasurer of the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce. Through those volunteer roles, she has helped organize major community events including the Iron Horse Arts Festival and concert series, the Midsummer Fest parade, Winter Fest parade and the HACC Honors Banquet.
In addition, Anderson works behind the scenes at The Tassel Performing Arts Center, managing lighting for performances and promoting events through social media and community outreach.
“Rebecca is the type of volunteer every community hopes for,” Jacobson said. “She doesn’t simply join organizations. She fully invests herself in making every project successful. She leads with positivity, attention to detail and genuine enthusiasm for our community.”
2025 Event of the Year Award
The 2025 Event of the Year Award was presented to the Holdrege Optimist Club for bringing legendary Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Larson to Holdrege in October 2025.
The sold-out event at The Tassel Performing Arts Center drew 816 attendees and created an inspiring experience for local athletes, families and volleyball fans throughout the region. Affordable ticket pricing helped make the event accessible to the community while also attracting visitors who supported local restaurants and businesses before and after the program.
The event also generated additional recognition for Holdrege when Cook later shared TikTok videos supporting Holdrege’s volleyball team during the state tournament.
In addition to hosting the event, the Holdrege Optimist Club has served Phelps County for 56 years through youth programs and community service projects, including youth volleyball, track club, Toys for Tots, scholarship support and holiday flag displays.
The PCVC also recognized outgoing committee members Cassie Ehrenberg and Karla Axtell for their service, ideas and contributions to local tourism efforts.
For more information about tourism in Phelps County, visit Visit37.
