10 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN January 2025 LAURA FIELD | NC EVP 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 ACCOUNTANT/BOOKKEEPER | 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. GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED LAURA FIELD | NC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT We have sets of cards at our house called “Table Topics.” They are boxes of cards that have questions to get conversations going. There are a variety of topics, most often sorted by themes, and we find them handy in many situations. We have used them for years to get our kids, the young ones and the grown ones, talking. We have also used them at dinner parties to get our guests talking. Some questions – “What’s your favorite book or movie?” – are pretty straightforward and maybe even easy. And then there are questions like, “If you could have anyone – alive or no longer living –over for dinner, who would you pick and what would you talk about?” Questions like these are a bit more challenging. Some questions really puzzle the people in the room, some get laughs and some lead to all-night chatter. As we start a new year at Nebraska Cattlemen, there are many opportunities that lie ahead where “Table Topics” could be useful as conversation starters. In fact, tonight, I was sorting cards and came across, “Which three political issues are most important to you?” As a policy organization, Nebraska Cattlemen spends a great deal of time focusing on the issues. Thanks to the hard work of the membership at the annual meeting in December, the policy for 2025 has been set and the marching orders have been outlined. The staff and leadership take our responsibility to uphold, promote and represent the will of the membership very seriously. This is especially important as we look forward to a new legislative session in Nebraska and a new Congress in Washington, D.C. In all things legislative, open and honest conversations are key. In both Nebraska and Washington, D.C., there will be many new faces and new issues to discuss. When the Nebraska Unicameral kicks off the session on Jan. 8, more than one-third of the 49 senators will be brand new. Among the first actions taken on day one is the election of leadership. Senators will elect a speaker, a chair and vice-chair of the Executive Board and chairs of the 14 standing committees. At the federal level, both houses will be directed by Republican leadership as will the White House. Based on the pace of the transition and selection of new cabinet members, it is expected that President-Elect Trump and the legislative branch will get down to business very quickly. There is no shortage of issues for Nebraska beef producers to be engaged with in 2025. From tax reductions to protecting tax exemptions already in place, from removing burdensome regulations to making sure new ones are responsible and science-based, from regulating cell-cultured meat to making sure dietary guidelines include beef, the need for many conversations will be important. If you need help getting a conversation started on what’s important to Nebraska Cattlemen, give me a call. I’ll get out my box of topics and pick a card for you! ~NC~
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