A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Thursday morning for the future home of Iron Horse Ag, a multi-million dollar fertilizer facility and the first business to break ground at the Iron Horse Business & Industry Park.
The plant is a project of Nebraskaland Aviation and will feature 6,665 tons of dry fertilizer storage across nearly 40,000 square feet on an 18-acre plot west of Holdrege. Officials say the facility will be a key part of the area’s agricultural infrastructure and economy for years to come.
“PCDC worked hard for many years to prepare for this moment,” said Jared Engelbert, president of the Phelps County Development Corporation Board. “Nebraskaland Aviation deserves tons of credit for the investment they’re making in our community.”
Iron Horse Ag owner Tye Marquardt said the project has been in the works for more than a decade with early planning starting in 2014 and ramping up in 2022 through design work with Stueve Construction.
“This project represents years of planning, overcoming obstacles and staying committed to delivering for our customers,” Marquardt said. “This facility is a game-changer for our operation and gives us the ability to serve our customers with greater efficiency, reliability and innovation.”
Construction is already underway, with Ostgren Construction completing early groundwork. Phase one of the project, focused on dry fertilizer operations, is expected to be completed by March 1, 2026. Phase two, which will expand to include liquid fertilizer equipment and storage, is set to continue into 2027. The full facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2027.
The plant is expected to create 15 jobs over the next five years. Several positions have already been filled to support early-stage operations and product development.
“These roles will span operations, maintenance, logistics, sales, formulation and management,” Marquardt said. “They will drive our company’s expansion and boost the local economy.”
PCDC first purchased 134 acres of farmland in 2014 to develop the Iron Horse Business & Industry Park, aimed at supporting projects like Iron Horse Ag that align with the county’s agricultural strengths.
“Developing the park took a long-term vision,” Engelbert said. “It’s exciting that the first project is a locally owned business that serves the primary industry in our county.”
Marquardt thanked local and state leaders, construction teams, rail partners and farmers across south-central Nebraska and north-central Kansas for their continued support.
“This facility is designed to support south-central Nebraska farmers by delivering a state-of-the-art solution to help them continue producing the highest corn and soybean yields in the U.S.,” Marquardt said. “Without their partnership, this vision would not have become a reality.”
Marquardt also thanked Stueve Construction for its design work, OmniTRAX for providing rail access and the team at Nebraskaland Aviation for their efforts to bring the vision to life.