June/July 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 19 VitaFerm® offers products with HEAT technology to support cattle when temperatures are above 70° Fahrenheit and insects are a challenge. Contact your BioZyme® Area Sales Manager Kevin Glabius at (816) 344-5762 or visit VitaFerm.com for more information. YOUR CATTLE SHOULDN’T BE. TECHNOLOGY ® MARKET IS THE leaders, spokespeople and advocates who connect with consumers, neighbors and fellow agricultural leaders to make an impact every single day.” Rural or urban, work or family, seasoned leaders or early career, Hejny sees the potential and the impact of every LEAD fellow, regardless of their job title or where they go after the program concludes. Many LEAD fellows will remember hearing Hejny’s common remark: “Leaders reflect.” After the better part of two decades sharing that wisdom with others, it’s Hejny’s turn to reflect in a major way. “After a day of seminars, after a meeting, after any experience – the mark of a true leader is the ability to reflect,” Hejny says. “As I reflect now on my career, people have asked me what I’m most proud of. I’d say that I’m most proud of the process.” Hejny finds fulfillment in watching LEAD fellows come through the program and seeing alumni driving change and creating opportunity in their segments of the industry. “It’s never been about teaching people WHAT to think…but HOW to really think critically and apply their unique abilities to a situation,” Hejny says. “Over the years, we’ve put together a top-notch curriculum and when presenting issues for discussion, we do our best to provide every angle that exists. Nebraska agriculture is in great hands because of the people who have been committed to learning, growing and thinking critically in this way.” LEAD participants, who are currently active in production agriculture and agribusiness, are selected each year for a two-year fellowship in which they develop their leadership skills and deepen their understanding of Nebraska institutions and public issues. Topics discussed throughout the program include water, international trade, healthcare and education at the state, national and global levels. “As I prepare to hand over the keys, I just hope I’ve taken things to a higher level and that our next leaders will do the same,” Hejny says. Hejny retires officially on June 30, 2024, and his first order of business in retirement will be celebrating 41 years of marriage to his wife, Pam, in July. “As far as words of wisdom, my wife is always telling me to stop and smell the roses. That can be hard to do in all the hustle and bustle, but I hope those in leadership roles today will take a moment to stop and have fun,” he says. “When you love what you do and can really have fun with it…it doesn’t feel like a job.” ~NC~ Applications for LEAD 43 are due no later than June 15, and can be requested by emailing leadprogram@unl.edu or calling (402) 472-6810. For more information on the selection process, visit www.lead.unl.edu.
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