8 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 NC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Richard (Dick) Pierce*, Miller, (308) 440-2489 PRESIDENT-ELECT: Craig Uden*, Johnson Lake, (308) 325-0285 VICE PRESIDENT: Eric Hansen, North Platte, (308) 530-3899 PAST PRESIDENT: Jerry Kuenning*, Lemoyne, (308) 883-8382 SECRETARY/TREASURER: Laura Field, Lincoln, (402) 326-7743 MEMBER SERVICES VICE CHAIR BY REGION 1 – Jaclyn Wilson, Lakeside, (308) 762-3196 2 – Lydia O’Brien, Whitman, (308) 546-7349 3 – Allan Louthan, Stanton, (402) 841-6601 4 – John Kennedy, Primrose, (308) 920-2828 5 – Jim Edwards, Ord, (308) 750-0881 6 – Bob Wiseman, Hershey, (308) 530-3137 7 – Heath Clausen, Leigh, (402) 750-4433 8 – Becky Funk, DVM, Lawrence, (308) 360-3179 9 – Erica Schluntz, Naponee, (308) 920-3191 COW-CALF COUNCIL CHAIR: Travis Chrisman, Wauneta, (308) 883-6781 VICE CHAIR: Jake Johnson, Hastings, (402) 984-8824 FARMER-STOCKMAN COUNCIL CHAIR: Dwight Dam, Hooper, (402) 720-4250 VICE CHAIR: FEEDLOT COUNCIL CHAIR: Ryan Danehey, Manhattan, Kan., (308) 440-8267 VICE CHAIR: Daron Huyser, Lexington, (308) 233-4368 SEEDSTOCK COUNCIL CHAIR: James Felt, Wakefield, (402) 287-2488 VICE CHAIR: Kristian Rennert, Elm Creek, (308) 440-9463 ALLIED INDUSTRIES COUNCIL Jake Pullen, Aurora, (308) 380-9040 ~ COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ~ ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION CHAIR: Jeff Heldt, Scottsbluff, (308) 641-5781 CHAIR-ELECT: Scott Reynolds, DVM, Broken Bow, (308) 870-0970 BRAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS CHAIR: Matt Blackford, Thedford, (402) 322-1377 CHAIR-ELECT: Robert Star, Hershey, (308) 520-3488 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CHAIR: Suzanne Jagels, Davenport, (402) 469-3374 CHAIR-ELECT: Kelly Terrell, Gothenburg, (308) 930-2162 MARKETING AND COMMERCE CHAIR: Chance McLean, Stromsburg, (402) 366-2254 CHAIR-ELECT: Marshall Hansen, Omaha, (402) 616-4541 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT CHAIR: Sam Drinnin, Grand Island, (402) 910-0233 CHAIR-ELECT: Logan Pribbeno, Imperial, (308) 883-7770 TAXATION CHAIR: Stephen Sunderman, Norfolk, (402) 750-0149 CHAIR-ELECT: Steven Wellman, Syracuse, (402) 269-7024 MEMBER SERVICES CHAIR: Quentin Dailey, Lexington, (308) 293-1144 NEBRASKA LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION REP. Bryce Dibbern, Interior, S.D., (308) 293-7766 UNL EXTENSION REPRESENATIVE Erin Laborie, Beaver City, (419) 494-3872 UNL REPRESENTATIVE Deb VanOverbeke, Lincoln, (402) 714-5879 * member of the Executive & Finance Committee INSIGHTS THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA! CRAIG UDEN | JOHNSON LAKE NC PRESIDENT-ELECT Nebraska is a unique state when it comes to our Nebraska Cattlemen organization and our one-house legislative system. Our cattlemen deal with five geographical zones across the state where cattle can be raised on as little as 2.5 acres of grass to areas that take as much as 25 acres. Moisture, labor availability, state regulations (i.e., brand areas), population density, transitioning capabilities and market access are just some of the opportunities and challenges that vary throughout the Nebraska beef industry. The 49 representatives in our unicameral also create offsetting advantages in our system. Its smaller and more nimble nature makes it easier to develop relationships and have conversations about the stateʼs No. 1 driver – agriculture. But it also creates challenges contrasting the urban-rural divide on issues like education, taxes and infrastructure. Nebraska Cattlemen has the neat opportunity to try to bring our beef industry and legislative body to common ground. Nebraska is a microcosm of the entire cattle industry from a gate-to-plate systems approach, and therefore, so is the Nebraska Cattlemen organization. We are unlike any other state as we house and involve a leading land-grant university – the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – that lays the research foundation for strong genetic seedstock herds, which in turn, crank out productive cow-calf operations that raise great feeder cattle to run as stockers and then supply our feedlot industry. The animals that run through our system become high-quality beef products that feed another facet of our industry – the processing sector – which is the largest in the United States. So, why do I lay it out like this? Itʼs because this 360-degree viewpoint allows our organization to thoroughly communicate and debate issues that will have a long-lasting impact on our ever-changing industry and the cattle producers who forge our business for future generations. We not only identify the problems, but we find solutions to the issues and advocate them to those who can help strengthen our industry. Circling back to our legislative system and 49 state senators, this group is only comprised of seven to eight agriculturally based legislators who have a general grasp on what our issues are. A current example of an issue we are tackling is the proposed realignment of the cost structure and strengthening of statutes in the modernization of Nebraska Brand Law. This issue is decades old, and many attempts to make changes have failed. This bill only pertains to the western portion of Nebraska, so itʼs not only been a long process for our members to come up with common sense policy, but also a challenge for our senators to find any common ground to make a judgement. When LB 646 (provides for exempt feedlots under the Livestock Brand Act) was introduced in the Agricultural Committee, we heard testimony both for and against the bill. Unfortunately, in this testimony, there were no solutions for how to fix the shortfalls if the bill passed or propositions for how to improve or modernize the current system in a way that maintains its integrity. Nebraska Cattlemen testified opposed as written but presented several amendments to move it forward. We were the only CONTINUED ON PAGE 48
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