6 Nebraska Cattleman September 2023 The Nebraska Cattleman magazine is published for and by the Nebraska Cattlemen association. PRODUCTION BluePrint Media LLC (970) 498-9306 PO Box 427 | Timnath, CO 80547 Editor | Lisa Bard Managing Editor | Jessie Topp-Becker Copy Editor | Larisa Willrett Designer | Megan Sajbel Field Materials Coordinator | Megan Sajbel Field Administration | Leslie McKibben CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Coe | Kristian Rennert Meghan Anderson | Bob Rooney STATE REGIONAL ADVERTISING Amber Coleman Mobile (402) 340-1588 acoleman@necattlemen.org NATIONAL ADVERTISING The Powell Group | Wendy McFarland (334) 271-6100 4162-B Carmichael Ct. Montgomery, AL 36106 LINCOLN 4611 Cattle Drive | Lincoln, NE 68521 (402) 475-2333 | NCmag@necattlemen.org LAKESIDE 1179 296th Trail | Lakeside, NE 69351 (308) 760-6464 Nebraska Cattleman is published monthly, except for May and July, by the Nebraska Cattlemen, 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 – (402) 475-2333. Manuscripts and advertisements are welcome. Nebraska Cattlemen reserves the right to edit and refuse advertisements. Readers are welcome to submit letters to the editor. Full name and address of writer must accompany all letters. Letters are accepted with the understanding that they may be condensed to fit the magazine format and edited for accuracy and clarity. Letters contain the opinion of the writer and not that of the Nebraska Cattlemen. Nebraska Cattleman You can get Nebraska Cattleman via email. Receive each issue even before the Post O ice ships the printed edition. Just send an email to us at NCmag@necattlemen.org and put “Email NC Magazine” in the subject line. We assure you we will not share your email address with anyone! Please visit our website www.nebraskacattlemen.org EVP Perspective By Laura Field NC Executive Vice President Bringing out the Best in Us At the end of my summer, I had two key events happen the same week – the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Summer Business Meeting and the Saunders County Fair. Both were first-time events for me. It was my first time attending NCBA since assuming the role of NC executive vice president, and it was the first time our 11-year-old twins exhibited breeding cattle at the county fair. As I’ve reflected on the highlights from both events, themes of strength, resilience, camaraderie, and greatness of the cattle industry and of cattle people top those reflections. Cattlemen and women came together in San Diego this summer for the NCBA Summer Business Meeting. Seeing friends and fellow cattle producers was a high point of the summer, and I’m reminded that it is a true honor to serve Nebraska’s cattle producers. Nebraska Cattlemen has strong and talented members serving in NCBA leadership roles, and that leadership is key to future representation on important issues. Sitting in the back of a room during a policy discussion, the time spent adopting policy to guide the work of the association was time well spent. Policymaking isn’t always fast or easy, but it is key to what we do as membership organizations. We must have direction and guidance on matters members care about most. The final wording often takes many rounds of discussion, deliberation, amendments and compromise. I firmly believe our voices are much stronger together than when we are divided, and even if it takes time and compromise, getting to a place of speaking with a unified voice is very important to the industry’s success. While I was in San Diego, my husband and kids moved into the county fair. The kids have spent months getting ready, and the excitement built as we started getting things loaded to head to the fairgrounds even before I left. I returned Thursday night in time to see them show Friday. The heat indexes during the week were in excess of 115° F. The heat was most definitely on, and staying cool and collected mattered. We had reminded our kids for weeks ahead of the fair that 4-H participation is about learning, having fun, growing and doing your very best. There were smiles, tears, lots of sweat and lots of water to replenish those lost fluids. Our kids got to learn from so many about what they were doing well and what they could improve on next year. Kids helped other kids, club leaders organized them, parents and grandparents cheered them on, and judges made selections and gave out ribbons and banners. The lessons our kids learned that week are going to impact them for years to come. The beef cattle community is at its best when we lift each other up. Whether we are supporting our colleagues in other states as they bring forward important policies or carrying a water bucket for a young person whose calf needs a drink before the championship drive, helping each other brings out the best in all of us! NC
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