FAIRBURY, Neb. -- A celebration was put together Tuesday for two Jefferson County Officials who won prestigious awards. 

Mark Schoenrock, Jefferson County Commissioner, won the 2023 Nebraska County Official of the Year Award which is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves as public officials. The award is the highest honor an elected or appointed county official can receive. 

“That morning, it was just a very humbling experience. You are looking out into their faces and you realize there are a lot of people who are equally deserving of that award,” Schoenrock said. “But I appreciate the recognition very much and I’m honored to be a part of this team. Not only here, in Jefferson County, but for all of the state of Nebraska.”

LeRoy Bast, Jefferson County Treasurer, won the Lifetime Achievement Award, an award given to a county official who has been involved with NACO for 25 years or more. 

“The first award I received was the County Treasurer of the Year award and it is voted on by the 93 county treasurers and I was completely surprised by that,” Bast said. “And then I received the lifetime achievement award and that was based on being a county official for 25 years.”

The reception was put together with friends, locals and family joining in celebration with cake and the awards on center stage.

“Oh, very nice. Jlee Wantz put this together and she’s a fantastic worker,” Bast said. “She’s very intelligent and she has been working in my office for several years. We don’t how to get along without her.”

Schoenrock said this is the first time two county officials from the same county have received the top two prestigious awards in NACO.

“Well, I was telling LeRoy, I went back and researched the Nebraska Association of County Officials records and I don’t think in our history that one county has been selected for the top two awards,” Schoenrock said. “These are the top two awards for our association and for one county to receive these top two awards, I think, is especially significant and, again, it is just a very humbling experience to be a part of that.” 

Schoenrock and Bast are both extremely honored to receive these awards they have received as they help their community day in and day out.