12 Nebraska Cattleman December 2023 Step Up and Serve “My dad always said a community is what you make of it and, to have a good community, sometimes you have to step up and help out,” Kuenning says. “Our parents instilled in us a strong work ethic and always said don’t be afraid to donate time, whether it’s serving on a board or committee or Sunday morning at church.” Kuenning’s time of service began with seeds planted through involvement in 4-H and FFA programs as a youth. He was fortunate to participate in a 4-H trip to Europe after graduating from high school, as well as serving as a state FFA officer while in college, both of which shaped his broad outlook on agriculture and the cattle industry. The early 1980s began a 28-year involvement on the Upper Republican Natural Resources District (NRD) Board. During his time on the NRD Board, they were the first to put a moratorium on wells and irrigated acres and flow meters to address the decline in the Ogallala Aquifer. At the time, this was a very aggressive and progressive conservation move to save and manage water resources. Neither action was very easy for those who had not yet developed their ground, but it was necessary to draw boundaries, and that board made some difficult decisions. “I don’t think I realized or appreciated the caliber of people that I was serving with on the NRD Board,” Kuenning says. “Looking back, I realize what a futuristic group of people they were. Committed, deep thinkers who were way ahead of their time with incredible ideas.” He followed that with involvement with Nebraska Cattlemen, serving as Feedlot Council vice chair and chair and then CattleFax, where he served as director of the North Central Region, vice president and then eventually president of that organization. He also served on the Nebraska Brand Committee in various capacities and as presiKuenning and Son LLC is a multi-generational family operation, with everyone contributing in integral ways. Top row, from left, are grandchildren Grady Fowler, Hayden Fowler, Landry Fowler, Lily Kuenning, June Kuenning and Luke Kuenning. Bottom row, from left to right are son Brandon and his wife, Kelly, Jerry and daughter Kory Fowler. Not pictured is son-in-law Nick Fowler who was not able to be present during the photo shoot due to other family commitments. Kuenning cattle are mostly Angus and Simmental genetics and are fed and backgrounded in and around Imperial. Kuenning maintains that, without his family managing the operation as they do, serving as NC president would not be possible. The farming side of the operation is key to providing additional diversification as well as a food source for the cattle enterprise. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 STEP UP AND SERVE • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMxNTA5