10 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN August 2026 RUMINATIONS 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 Phone (402) 475-2333 | Fax (402) 475-0822 nc@necattlemen.org | www.nebraskacattlemen.org NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN STAFF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | Laura Field lfield@necattlemen.org VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING | Jeff Stolle DIRECTOR OF MARKETING | John Roberts DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | Libby Schaneman DIRECTOR OF PRODUCER EDUCATION | Bonita Lederer DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | Matthew Melchor DIRECTOR OF PRODUCER RELATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT | TaraLee Hudson ACCOUNTANT | Kathy Abel OFFICE MANAGER | Ashley McClinton MEMBERSHIP FIELD STAFF | Hannah Pearson Nebraska Cattleman is published monthly, except for May and July, by the Nebraska Cattlemen, 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 – (402) 475-2333. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MAGAZINE PRODUCTION: CINCHED UP LLC ncmag@necattlemen.org EDITOR | Lisa Bard MANAGING EDITOR | Jessie Topp-Becker COPY EDITOR | Larisa Willrett DESIGNER & MATERIALS COORDINATOR | Megan Field ADMINISTRATION | Leslie McKibben CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Coe | Natalie Jones STATE & REGIONAL ADVERTISING Amber Coleman | (402) 340-1588 acoleman@necattlemen.org NATIONAL ADVERTISING Wendy McFarland | (334) 271-6100 mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com Working for Nebraska Beef Producers PASTURE TO PLATE TO PLATE NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN VIEW NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN DIGITAL VERSION BY SCANNING THE QR CODE. A LESSON IN DETERMINATION LAURA FIELD | NC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT During the Memorial Day weekend, three calves were born at our place. The first two arrived while my daughter and I were in Texas for my niece’s graduation and the boys were in Colorado working cattle. Thanks to great neighbors and dependable chore help, everything was under control and we made it home in time for the third arrival. The second – and smallest – calf seemed fine at first. But after about a week, I noticed he was wobbling, walking sideways and eventually falling down. Within days, he couldn’t stand without help. I dusted off my 1990s animal science education, made the mistake of Googling “newborn calf walks like he’s drunk” and then started calling every veterinarian I knew. After photos, videos and two trips to our fantastic large animal vet, the best conclusion was a neurological issue that likely hadn’t developed correctly. We knew we might soon face a difficult decision, and while we didn’t want to prolong the inevitable, our veterinarians assured us the calf wasn’t in pain and still had a good quality of life. Since he was a calf from one of our daughter’s show heifers, we wanted to explore every reasonable option before deciding. As I came to terms with the situation, three different veterinarians suggested acupuncture. I’d had it myself years ago, so I was open to the idea. Finding a veterinarian willing to perform acupuncture on a young calf wasn’t easy. I almost convinced a human acupuncturist to give it a try before finally locating a veterinary clinic that said yes. We arrived for the first appointment with cautious optimism. The calf quickly became the talk of the clinic, and after asking plenty of questions, we left hopeful. The next morning during chores, my husband accidentally left the gate open. When he turned around, the calf had walked out of his pen and into the pasture on his own – the first time we’d seen him do that since he was a week old. Each day has brought a little more progress. He may never be 100 percent, but his grit – and my hard-headed refusal to give up on him – have been a pretty good combination. Ranching has a way of teaching humility. We celebrate victories, no matter how small, because we know not every story ends this way. This year, many ranchers across Nebraska and the country have faced heartbreaking decisions in the wake of drought, wildfire, floods and severe storms. Their resilience inspires me just as much as this calf’s determination. As we inch closer to fall, I continue praying for rain, cooler temperatures, further healing where it is needed most and a season of renewed prosperity for everyone who makes their living from the land. ~NC~ Ranching has a way of teaching humility.
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