28 Nebraska Cattleman September 2023 BRIDGING THE GAP By Allison Walbrecht, Lincoln The average American is three generations removed from agriculture, which creates a unique challenge for cattle producers when defending our industry in the court of public opinion. As a proud fifth-generation rancher from the outskirts of Lincoln, I experience the consequences of the divide between urban Nebraskans and producers daily. From explaining the difference between beef and dairy cattle, to defending the quality of care my animals receive, stepping off the ranch is eye opening. Advocating for agriculture from a young age developed my passion as I realized a lot of people are willing to learn more about our way of life but lack the opportunity to do so. I believe in creating these opportunities to enhance understanding and embrace differences. Growing up, you could always find me in the barn. Whether I was working with my show calves or just helping my dad, I could never get enough. During one of my many trips to the Nebraska State Fair, I had a rare moment of free time, so I went to the ring with my friends to watch other exhibitors. Standing ringside and simply observing is out of my comfort zone as a competitor, but it gave me the opportunity to witness a showman living with a disability demonstrate her passion for showing and see how the values of a showman live in all of us. I left the ringside overwhelmed by inspiration and wanting everyone to feel welcome in the show family. This epiphany then led to the creation of Unified Showing, a program dedicated to empowering youth with disabilities through learning about and showing livestock. Each week our showmen come to my farm to practice animal husbandry and showmanship skills in preparation for the county fair. Being able to start this incredible journey Unified Showing buddies Bailey Selvage, left, and Mackenzie Mlnarik, right, help showman Joslyn Grotrian, center, exhibit at the Gage County Fair. Through Unified Showing, participant Davian Bice, left, is able to show at the county fair after practicing all summer long with helper Aca Andrew, right. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
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