10 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN December 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 MY YEAR AS NC PRESIDENT DICK PIERCE | MILLER | NC PRESIDENT Where has 2025 gone? As we get older, it seems we ask that question more. But really, 2025 has literally flown by and with it my tenure as your Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) president. In my last article as NC president, I’d like to give my take on several issues that we have been involved with. These are not the only things that your leadership and staff have been and are dealing with on a daily basis, but these are at the top of the list in 2025. Usually after any contribution I give to any discussion, I like to say, “There’s my 2 cents’ worth and I probably have some spare change coming back.” So, here goes … BRAND BILL LEGISLATION NC has been in the mix of this discussion from the outset. We have been at the table in years past and this year was no different. Immediately following our State Legislative Conference, members of our Brand and Property Rights Committee plus staff and officers went to Sen. Ibach’s office to begin a more in-depth discussion of her proposed LB 646. We spent time educating her staff about what livestock branding is and all the rules and regulations cattlemen have been dealing with for as long as we have had branding laws. Throughout, the legislative session discussions were ongoing between NC, the senator’s office and the State Brand Committee. Progress has been made, but we’re still not where we need to be going forward. We hope there will be significant legislation during the 2026 session. PROPERTY TAX To be honest, I’m disappointed that there wasn’t more focus on this during 2025. It still is one of the weightiest challenges producers deal with. Very little legislation was introduced and none of any significance. Across the state, agriculture saw very significant increases in property valuations, which increased our property taxes. I’ve often said that LB 1107, which rebates a portion of the taxes collected for K-12 education, basically went away with the valuation increases/tax increases we are all experiencing. I might add that NC played a significant role in getting LB 1107 across the finish line just a few years back. There is more work to be done in this area! OTHER FOCUS AREAS Other issues that we worked on or prioritized at the state level were public school funding, foreign investment in Nebraska lands, electronic ID and fake meat legislation. These are all issues that NC will continue to be engaged in. NATIONAL ISSUES At the national level, it seems most of our focus was on the New World screwworm (NWS) that is moving north and getting closer to our southern border. Again, NC was at the table and heavily involved in discussions around preventing the spread and subsequent infestation of livestock in the United States. As of this CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
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