Campus

Livestock

& Expo Buildings

With the construction of the Nebraska State Fair facilities at Fonner Park, livestock and agricultural shows have emerged as a strong market for central Nebraska.

To ensure these facilities are marketed in a coordinated, comprehensive fashion, representatives of the Nebraska State Fair, Fonner Park, Chamber of Commerce, and Convention and Visitors Bureau formed the Grand Island Livestock Complex Authority (GILCA) in 2015.

A history

of entertainment.

Fonner Park was originally built in 1953 as a permanent home for the Hall County fairgrounds. The site was purchased by the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association. The park was named after August L. “Gus” Fonner, who donated the land. 

The Old Reliable Hereford Show and Sale was held as its first livestock exhibition in September, before beginning its inaugural season of racing on April 29, 1954. In the years that followed, Fonner was expanded to include additional grandstand seating, expanded barn space, an indoor quarter-mile training track, and other amenities.

Bosselman

Conference Center

The BOSSELMAN CONFERENCE CENTER, located within the Heartland Events Center, offers a professional setting for business and educational meetings, training, conferences, wedding receptions and large organizational banquets. This space may be configured as one large room or up to five separate rooms to accommodate your needs. State-of-the-Art, audio and video equipment, coupled with our professional catering and bar services provide all the amenities necessary to host a successful event.