Menu
New fair board manager introduced to Red Willow County commissioners
McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County’s fair board manager for 28 years sees changes on the horizon, and she says, “They’ll all be good.”
Deb Lafferty introduced Jiles Bowman of Gordon, the new fair board manager, to county commissioners at their meeting Jan. 6. It’s time that the fairgrounds office moves forward technologically, she said, and Bowman was the best of 80 applications for her position. “The board interviewed seven really good applicants,” Deb said.
As Jiles learns the ropes on the fairgrounds, Deb is easing into retirement away from the fairgrounds that has filled her life — sometimes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
———
Sitting in the fair manager’s office recently, Jiles Bowman had three cell phones, one landline phone and two computers on the desk beside him. “The fair board was very impressed with his computer and technology skills,” Deb said. It’s time this office adopted more technology to help it become more efficient, she said.
Jiles has plans for a website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, computerized events scheduling, improved grounds security … a payroll and bookkeeping system to save time and paper and improve accuracy.
Deb, Jiles and fair board members want the Kiplinger facilities reserved and busy every weekend.
Deb said, “Now, we’ll also be able to take credit and debit cards here.” She concluded, with a grin, “There are going to be changes. They’ll all be good.”
Jiles said the changes he would like to implement will improve efficiency, but if Deb’s existing system “isn’t broken, I’m not fixing it. Deb’s done a good job.”
Feeling confident in Jiles’ skills, Deb will help him out through the end of May as he eases into the manager’s position, and she eases into retirement.
———
A cowboy who loves horses and roping, Jiles was born and raised near the Nebraska Panhandle cattle-country town of Gordon. His parents are retired teachers. Jiles served on the Sheridan County fair board. He’s sold his place outside of Gordon, moved himself and his horses south and he’s doing some roping in the big Kiplinger Arena on the county fairgrounds in McCook.
Jiles said he wants to continue the promotion of “the great facilities” on the fairgrounds. “We want to keep all the buildings full. It’s great for the buildings and the county, and brings lots of revenue into the community of McCook,” he said.
Jiles’ background includes 21 years in education, teaching third and fourth grade for five years in the school system on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He then transferred to the technology side of the schools district’s needs and has been technology director for the past 21⁄2-3 years. The school district covers 2,000 square miles, and from Jiles’ office, it’s 80 miles to the furthest of the four schools.
What brings Jiles Bowman of Gordon to McCook, besides an opportunity to share his technology expertise in a new and different setting? A new wife. “Joni brought me down here,” he says, with a smile.
He and Joni Unger of McCook met at a Slattery family branding near Gordon a year-and-a-half ago. They’ll be married a year in March.
Joni’s a native of McCook, and her 17-year-old son, Logan, is in school here. Her family is here. So, Jiles has made the transition to McCook.
Jiles is impressed with McCook. “Gordon is smaller, but McCook still has that ‘small town’ atmosphere,” he said.
He’s enjoying meeting people as he runs into them either in the Community Building, where the fair board office is located, or on his get-familiar wanderings around the fairgrounds.
Jiles will be in the office on the fairgrounds every other week through the end of May, until his contract with the school district ends.
Call to visit, (308) 345-4650 (that’s the office landline). Stop by the office, say hi; he’ll enjoy putting a face to a name. He’s enjoying meeting people.