The Phelps County Visitors Committee hosted its first Tourism Awards Luncheon, shining a spotlight on the people and events that are making a lasting impact on tourism in Phelps County.
The newly established Visit 37 Tourism Awards aim to recognize the individuals, organizations, and attractions helping to grow tourism, enhance the visitor experience, and showcase what makes Phelps County special.
Attendees gathered for a brief ceremony at the Rodeway Inn conference room on May 20 to honor the award recipients.
“We’re so excited to launch 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.
PCVC selected two individuals to receive the first Friend of Tourism Award: Mona Peterson and Sheila Tringe.
Mona Peterson
Mona has been a cornerstone of Phelps County tourism for decades. From her early involvement as a founding YMCA board member to her commitment to the Funk School Community Center, Mona has always had tourism on her mind and service in her heart.
Peterson tirelessly promotes the Funk School Community Center, which draws crowds year-round with events like Trivia Night, the Chili Feed, the Harvest Dinner, and the new Crepes and Cranes event. Her leadership also helped create the Funk WPA Exhibit Room, celebrating the Whooping Crane migration through the area.
Peterson was also instrumental in starting and continuing to help organize The Funk Festival of Cupcakes — a sweet summer tradition that brings hundreds of visitors to Funk every July. She also helped establish Funk as the Cupcake Capitol of Nebraska.
Peterson continues to contribute her talents to the Iron Horse Arts District, serving as a board member and leading efforts on arts district projects. Her many years of service on local boards and the Phelps County Visitors Committee have helped shape tourism countywide.
Peterson said it has been a joy to be involved in promoting tourism because of the wonderful community partnerships and encouragement she receives.
Sheila Tringe
A visionary and tireless advocate for public art, Tringe has been instrumental in transforming Holdrege into a destination for art lovers through her work with Citizens for Bronze Art. In 2024, she led the charge to get Holdrege’s bronze sculpture tour featured on the Nebraska Passport Program, bringing in thousands of new visitors.
From designing visitor maps and working with the chamber on Discover 37, to producing a video series with Brian Gnuse to preserve the story of each sculpture, Sheila’s commitment to detail and storytelling has created a resource that will benefit the community for years to come.
In her own words, Sheila humbly accepted the recognition:
“I will gratefully accept the honor as one ‘spark plug’ but in no way will I ever be able to explain or express how this dreamer could pull this off without the village of Holdrege participating 100 percent,” she said. “It has been an absolute joy to be part of this phenomenon.”
Event of the Year – 2024: Swedish Days
The 2024 Event of the Year award, as voted on by the community via Facebook, goes to the Swedish Days celebration.
The 2024 event reached new heights thanks to the efforts of Adam Hernandez and Lori Larson and Chamber volunteers, who brought more energy, innovation, and collaboration than ever before. Last year’s Summer Sunset Concert featuring Lemon Fresh Day drew a massive crowd, and the street fair was bursting with vendors, activities, and community pride.
The parade, kids’ games on the courthouse lawn, and outstanding marketing efforts all contributed to the festival’s success, bringing thousands of people into town and reminding former residents and visitors alike what makes Phelps County feel like home.
“Swedish Days has truly become a ‘mark your calendar’ event,” said one attendee. “It’s not just a celebration—it’s a homecoming.”
Hernandez thanked all of the community organizations and countless volunteers who help make Swedish Days (now Midsummer Festival) happen each year.
Visit 37 looks forward to building on this momentum — and to recognizing even more tourism champions in the years to come.
