Williams Returns Home to Lead, Grow

Although Brennan Williams left Holdrege to attend college after graduating from HHS in 2017, his heart stayed in his hometown.

As he pursued a degree in agricultural economics with a minor in agronomy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the pull of his hometown and the people who shaped him remained strong. Today, he’s back in Phelps County with his wife, Kelsey, and two young children, building a career at Ag Service Associates and raising a family in the place that helped raise him.

“When I moved back, I was welcomed by so many of the existing business owners in town,” Williams said. “Many of them expressed how great it was to see a young family return to Holdrege after college, vs. moving away.”

In college, Williams spent his summers crop scouting and helping with Pioneer Seed work for Blake Johnson in Loomis. It was during those long days in the fields and conversations with local producers that he fully realized he wanted to build his future in Phelps County.

“I loved the people I got to work with in that business, many of which I still work with at Ag Service Associates,” he said.

Williams credits his parents, John and Michelle Williams (also both Phelps County natives), as his biggest mentors. When he felt uncertain entering college, they encouraged him to explore every path, whether it led him back to Holdrege or somewhere else.

“They made sure I knew I could do anything, whether it was in Phelps County or elsewhere,” he said. “They ultimately helped me see opportunities here in Holdrege and Phelps County that I hadn’t thought of before.”

Another strong influence was teacher Jeremy Ham, who is now the HHS principal but was the shop teacher when Williams attended HHS.

Williams spent countless hours in Mr. Ham’s classes, taking every cabinetmaking and construction course available.

“I liked his classes because not only did you get to build things, but he taught me life skills like patience, problem solving and how to work with others,” Williams said.

Williams’ family, along with three other Holdrege families, purchased and remodeled the Holdrege Sun Theater when he was young, giving him the opportunity to work and be part of making a positive impact in the community.

What Williams enjoys most about living and working in Holdrege today is simple: the people.

“Everyone who I work with, from clients to fellow businesspeople, are amazing,” he said. “I feel very fortunate to be part of a community that is so supportive of a young individual like me.”

He hopes the next generation will look beyond the obvious career paths and take a deeper look at the opportunities that exist in Phelps County.

In 2025, Ag Service Associates moved to its new expanded location at 1323 Burlington. Williams is helping grow the business and sees future opportunities for others who want to return or relocate. The company is expanding both its local sales team and its statewide agent network, and future growth will also mean new internal support roles.

“Sometimes the best opportunities aren’t the big-name ones,” he said. “I think too often, young people only allow themselves to see the opportunities that they want to see, when in reality there are opportunities for almost everyone in Phelps County.”

Contact Ag Service Associates at (308) 995-6187 or asasupport@asacrop.com.

New Series THRIVING WHERE THEY STARTED from the PCDC Business Journal, Winter 2026