18 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN December 2024 CONSIDER THIS If you or someone you know is a Nebraska landowner committed to conservation on working land, we invite your application for the Leopold Conservation Award! The $10,000 award honors farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat. Application Deadline: March 1, 2025 To view the application form, visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA T Conservation Pays in Nebraska =Presented by: Scan this code to view the application form. their terms,” Pierce says. “So, you pray for strength and vision and foresight because you never know what is going to happen. But if you throw your hat in the ring, be engaged and be prepared for what comes.” Pierce feels that in the coming year, Nebraska Cattlemen will be busy with more work on property taxes, updating their strategic plan that sunsets in 2025, brand issues that need addressing, electronic ID and then all the unknown issues that will arise, including educating and getting to know the 19 new state legislators in Nebraska who will be sworn in come January. “Nebraska Cattlemen is a grass-rootsdriven organization and that is important. If anyone disagrees with NC policy, come and get involved and affect and change the policy,” Pierce says. “We are getting input from younger members, and I’d like to find ways to promote engagement by them and get all people to show up and to be part of the discussion and help form policy.” Pierce touts NC’s reputation and influence with Nebraska’s policy makers and maintains that it is vital to getting things done. “Because of our engagement and because of the relationships we’ve built, we can discuss and even disagree, but at the end of the day we can come together and work things out,” Pierce says. In the end, Pierce is looking forward to the year ahead and working with other NC officers Jerry Kuenning, Craig Uden and Eric Hanson, as well as members, staff and board. His past experiences have not only prepared him for this commitment but have set the stage for what is ahead. “There is a bit of self-reflection teeing up to becoming NC president,” Pierce says. “Am I doing what I need to be doing to make a difference in this world and to serve my fellow man? It’s an accountability thing and there is no age limit, no gender limit and it’s up to us to be the difference makers in the world.” No doubt Pierce will make a difference and leave things better because he showed up. ~NC~ PREPARED FOR WHAT COMES NEXT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
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