8 Nebraska Cattleman August 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Steve Hanson*, Elsie, (308) 289-0225 PRESIDENT ELECT: Jerry Kuenning*, Lemoyne, (308) 883-8382 VICE PRESIDENT: Dick Pierce*, Miller, (308) 440-2489 TREASURER: Laura Field, Lincoln, (402) 475-2333 SECRETARY: Lee Weide, Lincoln, (402) 475-2333 PAST PRESIDENT: Brenda Masek, Purdum, (308) 539-5533 MEMBER SERVICES VICE CHAIR BY REGION 1 – Terryn Drieling, Ashby, (308) 262-5051 2 – Kat Kennedy, Purdum, (308) 645-7036 3 – Allan Louthan, Stanton, (402) 841-6601 4 – John Ecklund, Atkinson, (408) 602-5905 5 – Jim Edwards, Ord, (308) 750-0881 6 – Chuck Gra , Ogallala, (308) 289-5841 7 – Rod Keil, Plattsmouth, (402) 297-9321 8 – Allen Bruntz, Friend, (402) 525-2651 9 – Quentin Dailey*, Lexington, (308) 293-1144 COW-CALF COUNCIL Chair | Al Atkins, North Platte, (308) 645-9046 Vice Chair | Travis Chrisman, Wauneta, (308) 883-6781 FARMER-STOCKMAN COUNCIL Chair | Marc Hanson, Morrowville, Kan., (402) 729-7174 Vice Chair | Dwight Dam, Hooper, (402) 720-4250 FEEDLOT COUNCIL Chair | Mike Briggs, Seward, (402) 641-0117 Vice Chair | Ryan Danehy, Manhattan, Kan., (308) 440-8267 SEEDSTOCK COUNCIL Chair | Reiss Bruning, Bruning, (402) 768-3332 Vice Chair | Krista Dybdal, Newcastle, (402) 841-8091 ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION COMMITTEE Chair | Jared Walahoski, Overton, (308) 746-1965 Chair-Elect | Je Heldt, Scottsblu , (308) 641-5781 BRAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS COMMITTEE Chair | Brock Terrell, Hay Springs, (308) 430-1213 Chair-Elect | Matt Blackford, Brownlee, (402) 322-1377 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH COMMITTEE Chair | Marcus Urban, Leigh, (402) 276-3830 Chair-Elect| Suzanne Jagels, Davenport, (402) 469-3374 MARKETING AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE Chair | Joe Eisenmenger, Humphrey, (402) 920-0665 Chair-Elect | Chance McLean, Stromsburg, (402) 366-2254 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE Chair | Eric Hansen*, North Platte, (308) 530-3899 Chair-Elect | Sam Drinnin, Grand Island, (402) 910-0233 TAXATION COMMITTEE Chair | Fred Meyer, St. Paul, (308) 750-0031 Chair-Elect | Scott Peterson, Valentine, (402) 322-0225 MEMBER SERVICES Chair | Quentin Dailey*, Lexington, (308) 293-1144 ALLIED INDUSTRIES COUNCIL Andrew Dorn, Minden, (308) 830-0356 NEBRASKA LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION Bryce Dibbern, Interior, S.D., (308) 293-7766 UNL EXTENSION Erin Laborie, Beaver City, (419) 494-3872 UNL REPRESENTATIVE Tom Burkey, Lincoln, (402) 472-6423 * member of the Executive & Finance Committee NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN STAFF LINCOLN OFFICE 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 Phone (402) 475-2333 | Fax (402) 475-0822 Email nc@necattlemen.org | www.nebraskacattlemen.org Executive Vice President | Laura Field lfield@necattlemen.org Vice President of Operations | Lee Weide Vice President of Marketing | Je Stolle Director of Communications | Libby Schroeder Director of Marketing | John Roberts Director of Producer Education | Bonita Lederer Director of Membership-Retention | Jessica Rudolph Director of Membership-Recruitment | Steven Stettner Executive Assistant | Patty Goes Vice President of Policy Engagement | Melody Benjamin 1179 296th Trail, Lakeside, NE 69351 (308) 760-6464 | mbenjamin@necattlemen.org Leader’s Letter By Kip L. Lukasiewicz, DVM, Farwell NC Animal Health and Nutrition Vice Chair People Agriculture and sustainability are based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.” This statement is listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website. As I think about the words sustainable and agriculture, I think of how overused they are at times, to the point where we lose focus on their true intent. We also lose focus on how to achieve because we are simply dreaming and not turning our dreams and hopes into reality. Sustainability is a common topic at industry meetings. We talk about carbon emissions and credits, proper manure management and surface management, etc. However, little is discussed about how we achieve it and at what cost. A feedlot manager I visited with recently stated an important fact. He said we can NEVER be truly sustainable without the help and work of people. He contends that if we expend all resources on land, water and air and forget about the people, then we are not going to be truly sustainable. People are responsible for implementing the current and future programs to improve the environmental landscape. However, it appears that we do not have the same labor force in terms of numbers that we once had. The Baby Boomers generation essentially produced their own labor. That labor force generation had fewer laborers, and they left the farm/ranch to capitalize on other industrial opportunities. I am not stating this as a negative but more as a reality. Today, our agricultural sectors – either the grain or protein industries – are looking for people with agricultural ties or experience, but the reality is they do not exist or are extremely limited. For agriculture to be sustainable, we have to invest more in people, including on-site education programs and improved mentorship, providing structure and guidance so we can teach the next generation about agriculture. Burk Teichert once said “good management” is defined as providing the tools necessary to complete or handle the task at hand, providing proper education on the use of those tools and the task that is to be completed and, finally, providing the freedom to use the tools and education to complete the task. We cannot be afraid of failing. We need to keep in mind that all failures can end positively if we talk about how that failure helped grow us individually and as a company. Teichert also stated that leadership is best defined as the voluntary action of those being led. I guess I am trying to say that people are the core to achieving our sustainability goals. They can be the root to the success or failure of the agenda. The only reason we would fail is if we do not provide the proper tools, education and freedoms to be successful. Some of the tools are structure, organization and goal setting to make dreams a reality. We must remember that in today's industrialized world, young people have a lot of choices. Our industry members need to understand and focus on how we attract people to our industry and to our companies. Today, all good companies provide retirement and health care. People want to work for good mentors/ managers who invest in their learning and success. They want structure and achievable goals. Without this, we are no longer sustainable. NC “
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