14 Nebraska Cattleman September 2023 WE HAVE YOUR BACKS, BARNS AND BOTTOM LINES. LIPHATECH.COM 800.351.1476 WE HEART YOUIt takes a farmer to understand a farmer. And here at Liphatech Ag, we have the farming and ranching backgrounds to know what you’re up against every day. Your dedication, grit and selflessness don’t go unnoticed. Our team is here to support you in every way we can. the Sandhills Task Force. Partnership with other agencies and organizations provides for a diverse funding pool and holistically planned projects. Sandhills Stewards In 2021, the Sandhills Task Force developed a new program to help with the business side of ranching. The Sandhills Stewards program was designed to help ranches identify goals for improvement and get connected with resources that can help them reach those goals. Program Coordinator Cody Trump meets with ranchers, sets up and promotes workshops, interviews Sandhills ranchers for his Sandhills Stories podcast and facilitates peer meetups where ranchers can share information among themselves. Sandhills Ranch Internship Program A common concern among ranchers is that there are no young people interested in ranching. To address this concern, the Sandhills Task Force launched the Sandhills Ranch Internship Program in 2023. This year, five young people were placed on ranches throughout the Sandhills. Grant funds were raised to pay for a portion of the experience, and ranchers had to agree to several terms set forth by the program, including participating in a full three-month internship, providing lodging and some meals, being willing to share how decisions are made on production and financial decisions, participating in mentor training and exposing the intern to various tasks. The Sandhills Task Force takes care of advertising, collects the applications, facilitates interviews, provides contract drafts and follows up with both ranchers and interns throughout the experience. This program is just getting started and is already slated to expand in 2024. The quality of interns and the applications received prove there are many young people interested in ranching, they just need help making connections. The new outreach programs augment efforts that have been in place for CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 SANDHILLS TASK FORCE • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 The Sandhills Stewards program was designed to help ranches identify goals for improvement and get connected with resources that can help them reach those goals.
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