14 Nebraska Cattleman December 2023 dent in 2016. Time on the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Board and the Nebraska Cattlemen Board were interspersed throughout the years and, in 2022, he was asked to come back to Nebraska Cattlemen Board to serve as an officer and eventually president in 2024. A very important factor in an organization, according to Kuenning, is the staff leadership or manager. Kuenning maintains that if you have a good leader/manager, the best thing you can do is to step aside and let them do their job. Kuenning appreciates that if they are a good manager, they will come to elected leaders when needed and the leader’s job is to answer the questions – and again, get out of the way. As board members or elected leaders of any organization, there is a huge time commitment needed by all and, with very diverse backgrounds, different personalities and varying perspectives, it’s not always an easy task. It is made easier when all are open to learning and working together. “The NC Board is a large board, but you can learn something from everybody,” Kuenning says. “Just ask people what they do and how they do it and it’s amazing how much you will have in common. It’s the people who make it happen, so the more you learn about them and how they work, the more effective you will be.” The Year Ahead When asked about his vison on serving as Nebraska Cattlemen president, Kuenning says “the last thing I want to be accused of is coming in with an agenda.” He understands that many issues are yet to be resolved such as brand, packer concentration, price discovery and more, but there are still unknown issues ahead. “We still have many of the same issues to deal with that we have been struggling with in the past,” Kuenning says. “New issues will be dealt with as they come up. Our job is to find the best people possible to work on these issues and find a good resolution.” While Kuenning grew up belonging to organizations and being involved, he stresses that grassroots issues and discussions that lead to seed ideas that then take root and grow are the basis of resolving issues that affect all in the industry. Without the grassroots involvement, there would be no solutions. He also stresses that we need to tell our story so that consumers understand how different agriculture is from non-agriculture industries. Kuenning stands by face-to-face communication and feels it’s vital that Nebraska Cattlemen is active in the state and federal legislatures and is willing to engage with press and consumers. Respect and credibility are vital, and getting in front of consumers to gain and keep that is very important. Kuenning also appreciates the differences within agriculture, particularly when it comes to production factors in different environments. “Water is a big issue. In the West, we are always cognizant in our cropping and grazing systems that it may not rain for a while. So protection of our resources – land and water – is huge,” Kuenning says. “Technology helps with that protection, and we don’t need the government to provide that protection. We do it on our own because we are – at our core – environmentalists.” Kuenning is very much looking forward to serving and working with members and NC board members to make a difference in his year as NC president. It will take time away from his operation and his other passions that include a newly acquired team of Percheron mares that are a drive team, but he has no doubt it will be worth it. “I could absolutely not serve in this capacity without the help and support of my children and their spouses, other family members and our employees,” Kuenning says. “Having them choose to come back and join the operation is key and a blessing.” NC Diversification on the Kuenning operation includes a feedlot where most of the cattle are fed and marketed in branded programs such as Certified Angus Beef. STEP UP AND SERVE • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
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