16 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN October 2024 PEOPLE In the Heart of the Sandhills A Gateway to Careers in Ranching GRACE VEHIGE | CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Sandhills Task Force, a Nebraska non-pro t long known for its e orts in education, technical assistance and on-the-ground conservation practices, has been instrumental in many impactful agricultural developments, including their investment in the next generation of ranchers. O ering its rst cohort of interns in the summer of 2023, the Sandhills Ranch Internship Program connects young people with skilled ranchers who provide quality educational opportunities to those interested in ranching, livestock production and rangeland management. With partial funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Sandhills Ranch Internship Program bene ts both the ranching industry and the rural communities these interns are placed in. As an inclusive learning opportunity, this program is available to all individuals – students, non-students, veterans and others – as long as they are 19 years of age or older. If anything, this inclusivity demonstrates the desire from young professionals for programs such as this. “In the past, aspiring ranchers or farmers learned a lot of their skills and knowledge from their parents or grandparents, and if they didn’t have immediate family, they usually had extended family that they could work for over the summer and learn about the profession,” explains KyLee Kime, administrative assistant and internship coordinator for the Sandhills Task Force. “Unfortunately, the reality is that fewer people are raised on a ranch, and they don’t have family in the agricultural industry to learn from.” Despite this challenge, the Sandhills Task Force Internship Program is proof of not only the prevalent interest in ranching from young professionals, but it is also a testament that ranching culture and heritage is here to stay. “Many of us have heard it said that there are no young people who want to work anymore,” Kime shares. “This program is proving that just isn’t true.” Shelly Kelly, Sandhills Task Force executive director, agrees. “When I hear ranchers say there are no young people interested, I wish I could show them [our applicants’] resumes because there are so many young people interested. They just need an opportunity.” This internship program has played an essential role in solving industry-wide issues – namely with labor and succession planning. Participants of the 2024 Sandhills Ranch Internship Program. Photo courtesy of the Sandhills Task Force.
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