32 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN June/July 2025 PEERS BUILDING A BEEFIER FUTURE ANN MARIE BOSSHAMER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEBRASKA BEEF COUNCIL Every rancher and cattle producer in Nebraska knows that producing high-quality beef is a long-term commitment – one that spans generations. At the Nebraska Beef Council, we apply that same generational mindset to our youth education programs. Thanks to your investment through the Beef Checkoff, we are helping to shape a future where young Nebraskans are not only informed about beef, but inspired to be a part of its future, whether in the pasture, the kitchen or simply at the dinner table. Over the past year, we’ve expanded and deepened our youth outreach efforts, ensuring that students across the state – rural and urban – understand the importance of beef production, nutrition, sustainability and career opportunities in the beef industry. From high school ag classrooms to college culinary labs, your Checkoff dollars are opening doors. In 2024 alone, the Nebraska Beef Council partnered with ag programs at York High School, Kearney High and Ashland-Greenwood Schools, as well as culinary programs at Hastings Central Community College, to bring real-world beef knowledge into the classroom. These hands-on learning experiences allow students to explore the entire beef lifecycle – from pasture to plate – and see how their own career paths might intersect with the beef industry. For students already pursuing ag and leadership roles, events like the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium, Nebraska Beef Leadership Experience and the Young Nebraska Cattlemen’s meeting provide unique opportunities to dive deeper into industry topics and connect with producers, experts and peers who share their passion. Our reach also extends to students focused on health and nutrition. At conferences such as the Healthy Kids Collaborative, Nebraska Kids’ Fitness and Nutrition Days at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and sessions with University of Nebraska Medical Center dietetic interns, we’re helping future dietitians and health professionals understand the nutritional role of beef and how it fits into a healthy lifestyle. These are the people who will be advising families, patients and institutions about food choices in the future and, thanks to your support, they’ll be better informed advocates for beef. Events like FFA Day at the Cattlemen’s Classic, Ag Day at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and the Nebraska State FFA Convention allow us to connect with large groups of motivated students, reinforcing beef’s role in Nebraska’s economy and culture. Meanwhile, industry-specific efforts like the UNL Beef Scholars Program and the CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 ® BY CONNOR AGRISCIENCE SILAGE BARRIER FILMS Deters birds and animals
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMxNTA5