44 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN September 2024 “I am grateful for the time that everyone took from their daily activities to help us better understand not only the life cycle of cattle, but of the integral part Nebraska plays in feeding the world.” The group also visited Trampe Farms, a multi-generation crop farm near Riverdale, to learn about corn production and how 40 percent of Nebraska’s corn crop is used for livestock feed. The final stop was at Tyson Fresh Meats, a 4,600-head-per-day harvesting facility in Lexington, where they observed the harvest process and carcass breakdown, resulting in boxed beef ready for global shipment. “There’s really no better place to tell the story of how beef is raised than right here in Nebraska,” Wegner says. “We have the ideal natural resources, access to quality feed, the processing facilities and generations of passionate people who are dedicated to raising high-quality beef.” ~NC~ NEBRASKA BEEF COUNCIL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42 We are also welcoming 19 winners of Nebraska Production Animal Health Scholarships to campus this fall. This scholarship program covers 50 percent of tuition for the first two years of college for Nebraska students who plan to become veterinarians in practices that serve our state’s livestock industry. After two years, students can apply for a continuation of the scholarship, which covers full tuition for the next two years. Ultimately, they can apply for the Elite 11 scholarship announced by Gov. Pillen earlier this year. The Elite 11 program covers 100 percent of tuition in the Nebraska Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine for 11 aspiring veterinarians who promise to serve Nebraska ag producers for at least eight years. If you are reading this, you already know that Nebraska – like many other states – faces a critical shortage of large animal vets. This scholarship program grew out of discussions among rural veterinarians, state lawmakers and University of Nebraska, and it is just the first step in growing our state’s veterinary industry. Our veterinary students aren’t alone in their passion for supporting Nebraska’s beef industry. This summer, we highlighted some of the graduate and undergraduate students engaged in truly important research supporting the beef sector. Students’ work covers an incredible range of topics. For example, Morgan Marquardt’s research aims to determine the relationship between the skill of animal handlers and animal handler safety. Drew Lakamp is working to advance understanding of how genetics impact the microbiome on the eyes of cattle – and how an animal’s microbiome impacts its susceptibility to pinkeye. I urge you to read about more student work at https://beef.unl.edu/ student-beef-research. I also hope to connect with you this fall at Husker Harvest Days, at the East Campus Tailgates on Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Nov 23, or at other events across the state. As always, please stay in touch – mboehm3@unl.edu. ~NC~ IANR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40
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