LEXINGTON — The Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their 2026 Chamber and Ag Banquet on Friday, Feb. 27. It was an evening to reflect and recognize the efforts of individuals, businesses and agriculture for the tireless work they do in the community.
Presidential Award – Dan Roberts
The Presidential Award, an honor that recognizes extraordinary leadership and service to Lexington and the surrounding area.
This year’s recipient is someone who is deeply invested in the well-being of this community and truly understands what it means to give back. A dedicated and passionate supporter of the Orthman Community YMCA, he regularly participates in classes, boot camps, and wellness opportunities, sometimes fitting in multiple workouts in a single day. His commitment to health and well-being reflects the very heart of the YMCA’s mission.
Beyond personal involvement, he serves as President of the Orthman Community YMCA Branch Board, leading with humility and action. A hands-on, service-oriented leader, he is always willing to step in, offer support, and help move the organization forward. He has also played a key role in the YMCA’s capital campaign and understands the lasting impact fundraising has on both the organization and the greater community. His leadership, generosity, and dedication continue to strengthen the YMCA’s ability to serve others.
A colleague from Dawson/Gosper County CASA shared this reflection:
“I am truly honored to reflect on the impact this person has made since joining our team. He embodies what it truly means to be a CASA volunteer. Since October 2021, he has served multiple families and children, showing up month after month with encouragement, fun outings, and genuine care. Whether he’s shooting hoops, heading to the batting cages, or helping deliver donations to foster families, his kindness and dedication consistently shine through.
He has also been a positive and influential voice while serving on panels and during presentations, helping raise awareness about the difference CASA makes in our surrounding communities. He deeply believes in giving back and lives out the mission—working toward a future where no child ever stands alone.”
Jim Kelly Memorial Award – Carl Hays
The Jim Kelly Memorial Award. This award is given to a person or organization that has worked tirelessly to serve the members of our community and area in one form or another.
The award is named for long-time Lexington resident Mr. Jim Kelly. Mr. Kelly was the publisher of the Lexington Clipper and the Dawson County Herald for 39 years. His greatest passions were his dedication to Lexington and developing the Municipal Airport. He served as a member of the Lexington Airport Authority for 31 years.
He also served on the Lexington Business Improvement District in the 1980’s and as a member of the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce. Jim was one of the original coordinators of the Lexington Labor Day Extravaganza and building the Centennial Park to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city’s name change from Plum Creek to Lexington.
When asked why he was so active in the community Mr. Kelly stated, “well, it was all just part of being a citizen, I thought it was part of the responsibility of being in business. When you help the town, you help yourself.”
The person receiving the Jim Kelly award is just one of those people you can count on. If something needs done, he’s there — quietly, consistently, and without making a big deal about it. At Plum Creek Market, he leads with fairness, respect, and a lot of heart, and it shows.
Over the past 10 years he has served not only Plum Creek Marketplace but this community. You will also see him giving back to Lexington by being part of the Optimist Club, the VFW and he also serves on the YMCA Executive Board, because that’s who he is. He shows up, he cares, and he puts people first.
And if you really know him, you know his favorite role is being a dad — whether that’s making videos with his kids or trying new foods with them, usually with a lot of laughs. That same love and patience show up in everything he does.
Carl would be the last person to expect this — which is exactly why he deserves it. We’re proud to recognize Carl Hays with the Jim Kelly Award.
2025 Business of the Year – Eustis Body Shop
Eustis Body Shop began as a one-shop enterprise in 1979 by Doug Keller. With a degree in Auto Body Technology from Southeast Community College in Milford, NE, Doug purchased a building in Eustis and turned a childhood passion for cars into a thriving business.
From that first shop in 1979, Eustis Body Shop expanded with shops in Eustis, Lexington, Grand Island, Kearney, Cozad, and Lincoln in 2018. Then, in 2024, Eustis Body Shop welcomed Speidell Body Works into the family creating two more Lincoln locations at N 48th St and Rentworth Dr. As they have grown, they have always strived to stay up to date with the latest technology and employed highly trained technicians to serve their loyal customers across Central and Eastern Nebraska.
In 2022, the Eustis Body Shop family lost a longtime friend in Lexington Shop Manager
Dave Berke. In his honor, they have created the Dave Berke Memorial Scholarship for students in the Automotive Collision Repair program at Southeast Community College. In this scholarship, they hope Dave’s passion for his work will continue to live on in the young people who will be following in his footsteps.
Eustis Body Shop is proud and thankful for the thousands of Nebraskans who have had vehicles repaired in their shops. It is their promise that they will continue to work their hardest to ensure the safety of their current and future customers.
Friend of Tourism – Lexington Public Library
The Friend of Tourism award is given to an individual or tourism entity who has worked hard to promote Lexington and the Dawson County area.
The Lexington Public Library proudly serves Lexington and the greater Dawson County area. With patron-focused staff, the library welcomes everyone. In fact, banners hanging in the entryway, leave no doubt of that, proclaiming in English and in Spanish, “Welcome to the Lexington Public Library. We’re glad you’re here.”
Partnering with local community and state organizations, the library hosts cultural and educational events-from author visits and theater performances to festivals and family programs which enrich local life and builds connection and belonging. Programs like Prime-Time Family Reading, monthly Family Fun Nights, and the annual Fall Festival are all examples of the library’s effort to bring people together to have fun, learn, and build community.
The library also fosters community engagement and inclusion through the One Book, One Lexington program, where the community is encouraged to read and discuss a selected book together. In its third year, the only requirement of the selected title is that it have wide appeal and be available in English and in Spanish. Thanks to grants acquired by the library, for the last two years books have been available for free for patrons to keep.
The Lexington Public Library is more than a building with books and computers. Wherever there is a community event or an opportunity to help an under-served population, you’ll find the Library and its staff. They are incredibly proud and profoundly privileged to serve this wonderful community. The Lexington Public Library truly believes in its mission-that it’s you Lexington Public Library: a place to belong, connect, explore, learn and grow.
Rising Star Award – Nancy Pinedo
The Rising Star Award recognizes individuals who show great promise and potential in their field.
True leadership is not always the loudest in the room. It is the steady presence that lifts others, the trusted voice that brings people together, and the compassionate heart that turns adversity into service. Nancy Pinedo exemplifies this kind of leadership, the kind that transforms and changes lives.
Nancy is a relationship centered leader whose professional path reflects an extraordinary commitment to strengthening families and building systems of support where all can thrive. While she holds a master’s degree in social work, it is her own life experiences that have shaped and guided her in being a leader in our community.
Nancy chose courage over circumstance, transforming personal adversity into a lifelong mission of advocacy, empowerment, and service. Her lived experiences are the foundation of her empathy and her deeply humane approach allows her to connect with families in ways that foster trust, restore dignity, and inspire hope.
Nancy played an instrumental role in helping scale a leading Sixpence home visiting program at our Lexington Public Schools supporting the achievement of record-setting retention rates in the state during her tenure. This accomplishment reflects not only program success, but her exceptional ability to cultivate environments where families feel welcomed, supported, and motivated to remain engaged in their children’s growth and development.
Today, Nancy continues to influence meaningful changes through her role as Lexington’s first community liaison at Lexington Public School’s Welcome Center. In this role, Nancy helps create pathways that help support any and all community members to set and strengthen their roots in our community.
Nancy serves as President of United by Culture Media, where she champions cultural connection and elevates community voice. She also serves as Secretary Treasurer for Heartland Family Partners, offering strategic insight and guidance that support regional collaboration, growth, and long-term opportunities. Nancy has also been one of the more active community members in helping families access the Lexington Community Foundation relief fund.
What truly sets Nancy apart is how she leads. Despite her many accomplishments, she remains profoundly humble. She does not seek recognition; Nancy creates space for others to be seen and supported. Nancy Pinedo represents the very essence of servant leadership. She is a bridge-builder, an advocate, and a catalyst for sustainable change. Her life and work demonstrate that the strongest leaders are often those who have walked through hardship and chosen to turn it into hope for others.
I have had the privilege of working alongside Nancy for nearly a year, and it didn’t take long to see just how extraordinary she is. Nancy is one of the kindest, most genuine, and hardest-working people I know. Her love for others shines through in everything she does, especially in the way she supports people during some of their most challenging moments.
No obstacle ever seems too great for Nancy, she meets every challenge with creativity, determination, and an unwavering commitment to helping others. She has a rare, selfless spirit and would give her last dollar if it meant making someone else’s life a little better.
Ag Employee of the Year – Mickey Fishcer
This year’s ag employee of the year is a hard-working individual who when asked by his wife what he likes to do for fun simply replies, “I like working, my work is fun.” His current employer said, “When he came to work for us, we didn’t know what to do with him and now we wouldn’t know what to do without him.”
Our ag employee of the year was born and raised in the Sutherland area and graduated from Arthur high school in 1986. Through it all he learned what would become his lifelong craft of caring for land and livestock. While also learning how to turn wrenches and as Paul Harvey would say, “taming cantankerous machinery.” Our ag employee of the year would come to call the Platte River Valley home in October of 1989 just 5 short months after his sweetheart and him said I-Do in North Platte.
From 1989 to 2018 our Ag Employee of the year worked the same land, but as his wife notes the signature on the paycheck changed from time to time, starting with John Mundorf, then Gary White, all son in laws of Dallas Rhone. When Walking C and Terry Crawford’s family took over the land in 2018 it was made on the most certain terms that it would only happen if our ag employee of the year stayed on and continued to care for as he had done so for nearly 3 decades before.
Before we go on, I think we need to reveal the name of the Ag Employee of the year because I am going to slip up on one of these stories and accidentally say his name anyway. So, let’s give a big round of applause for our ag employee of the year Mickey Fischer!
Corey Bender shared this about Mickey, and I think it goes directly to the point of why we are honoring him here tonight.
Mickey has been a person that does not favor nor will he ever ever ever put a fellow employee down. I enjoy being able to ask Mickey what are you thinking for the day? Mickey always has a list of what needs to be done. Most of the time it’s a carbon copy of mine. Oftentimes when you ask Mickey to do something he’s back before you think and done with the project. He’s the “your done already person” never is Mickey the one that is “you’re not done with that yet”. Which speaks highly of a person in my mind.
Mickey has evolved from being just on the cattle side of our operation to farming. Learning new technology and applying to the operation on a daily basis. I believe to know an operation you must have knowledge of every part of the operation and have an unstoppable drive to better yourself and your company. This is where most people fall short. Not Mickey, he has challenged himself to continue learning and stepping out of his comfort zone.
In closing, Mickey told me once that he’d work here if he never had to manage people. The truth is when Mickey speaks all respect him enough to listen, truly listen. The tone he uses around the guys and respect he gives others has put him ahead of most of the managers you’ll ever meet. Thank you for your service to the family and your friendship. Sincerely Corey Bender.
Let’s dive into Mickey not just the ag employee, but the volunteer, the burn boss and most importantly the husband, father and friend many of us know.
Mickey and his wife Marti have 2 sons who were able to join us tonight. Mason and his wife Jessica, along with their two children, Colton and Evie. Mason is a feedlot manager for Cobalt Cattle in Sublette Kansas.
Also here tonight is son Mitchell and his wife Sarah, along with their sons Beau and Casey. Mitchell is the assistant location manager at Indianola for Ag Valley Coop.
Mickey and Marti are both extremely proud of their sons following their own passion for agriculture first through bachelor’s degrees in ag fields through Fort Hays State University and now into their respective careers. It’s no doubt that the passion and work ethic they bring to their jobs is because of their dad Mickey.
In raising his sons Mickey was able to continue to support a great passion of his in baseball. Mickey served on the Cozad Legion baseball board for approximately 20 years. Mason even went on to play college baseball for Garden City Community College.
Finally, that passion for caring for the land has led Mickey to be an active and important member of the Central Platte Rangeland Alliance.
Friend and longtime burn boss Mark Alberts shared his story about Mickey in saying, “I have known Mickey for about 15 years. We are both a part of Central Platte Ranger Rangeland Alliance, a group of farmers, ranchers, and volunteers that do prescribed burns on pastures to control cedar trees. Mickey is present on the majority of the burns and also on workdays to work on equipment. Mickey is a great asset to the group and fully dedicated. Mickey is a quiet leader. He leads by example. He won’t ask anyone to do something he himself isn’t willing to do. Mickey is made up of scrap iron, intelligence, grit, persistence, and maybe a Busch Lite or two. We’re proud to know Mickey Fischer and can’t think of a person more deserving of this award.” Mark and Deb Alberts Cheryl Alberts-Irwin.
Agri-Service Award – Country Partners Cooperative
The Agri-Service Award is awarded to a business or individual for outstanding effort and commitment to the Lexington Agri-Business Community.
On behalf of everyone at Country Partners Cooperative, thank you. We are truly honored and grateful to be recognized with the Agri-Service Award, and we sincerely thank all those who took the time to vote for us.
Country Partners has deep roots in this region, with a history dating back to 1904. For more than 120 years, through tremendous change in agriculture and our communities, our mission has remained the same: to support local producers, strengthen rural communities, and help agriculture thrive not just today, but for generations to come. Being recognized for service is especially meaningful to us, because service is at the heart of what we do.
Today, Country Partners operates 21 locations across Central Nebraska. Through our full-service grain, agronomy, seed, energy, and feed departments, our goal is to provide our member-owners with reliable products, trusted expertise, and the support they need to succeed. But more importantly, we strive to build strong relationships. As a cooperative, our success is shared — when our members do well, the cooperative does well.
We are especially thankful for the Lexington community and the continued support you show our Agronomy and Seed locations, as well as Lexington Station. Your trust and loyalty do not go unnoticed. We are proud of the dedicated employees who serve you every day in Lexington and across all our locations. Their hard work, commitment, and passion for agriculture are what make this recognition possible.
To our employees, thank you for showing up each day with a focus on safety, service, and doing the job right. To our member-owners, thank you for believing in the cooperative model and allowing us to be part of your operations and your livelihoods. And to the broader community, thank you for your partnership and support throughout the years.
This award belongs to everyone who has played a role in Country Partners’ journey — past, present, and future. We are proud of where we come from, grateful for where we are today, and excited about where we are headed.
Farm Family of the Year – Gary and Mary White
For over 40 years, Gary and Mary White have been part of the fabric of the Dawson County livestock industry with White Land and Cattle Company northeast of Lexington. What started as a small operation grew to 2,500 head capacity.
The full article can be found at this link.
