44 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN September 2025 PEERS TURNING THE PAGE TIFFANY HENG-MOSS, PH.D.| INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, HARLAN VICE CHANCELLOR, INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN Happy fall! As I write this, we’re preparing to welcome students back to East Campus after a summer filled with hands-on experiences across Nebraska and beyond. Students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) spent their summers working in feedlots, cooperatives, equipment manufacturers and distributors, ag-tech startups, rural banks, government agencies, farms, ranches and more. Along the way, they gained valuable skills that will serve them throughout their careers – and fresh insight they’ll bring with them as they return to campus. We’re also excited to welcome the second cohort of the Elite 11 Veterinary Scholarship Program to campus and welcome back the inaugural class. These students – all from Nebraska – are committed to serving in rural veterinary clinics that are vital to our livestock industry. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the members of the first class, and I’m looking forward to meeting this year’s incoming Elite 11 students. The top 11 in each class receive full-tuition scholarships to our veterinary program with a commitment to practice in Nebraska for at least eight years after graduation. When Gov. Jim Pillen, the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association and CASNR partnered to launch the Elite 11 in 2024, we shared a goal: to strengthen Nebraska’s livestock industry by addressing the shortage of rural veterinarians. This fall, we’re taking another step forward with the launch of a new program at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis also designed to expand our veterinary workforce. A new online veterinary technician degree program is tailored for those already working in veterinary clinics who haven’t yet completed their certification. It provides a flexible path toward board certification, enabling graduates to perform a broader range of clinical responsibilities independently. The program is especially beneficial for non-traditional, placebound or part-time students, offering flexibility while maintaining rigorous hands-on training requirements – either on campus or in a clinical setting. Importantly, this new offering complements our in-person programs, giving both students and employers more options to meet workforce needs. Veterinary clinics across Nebraska have voiced strong support for this program, recognizing it as a key tool in building and retaining a skilled, rural veterinary workforce. As we turn the page to fall, we’re also reflecting on a productive and inspiring summer. Just days from now, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources will host U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) near Mead. I’m excited for them to see firsthand the cutting-edge work happening at ENREEC – work that’s advancing precision and digital agriculture tools and helping our producers improve efficiency and profitability. Their visit will include a stop at the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center, where we’re planning both a tour and a roundtable discussion. This is a truly remarkable opportunity to showcase Nebraska’s leadership in ag innovation. We were also proud to partner with the Sand County Foundation to recognize this year’s Leopold Conservation Award recipients. The award honors landowners who exemplify voluntary conservation and responsible land stewardship. This year’s honoree, the Diamond Bar Ranch near Stapleton, is operated by two generations of the Jones family – six members in total, five of whom are CASNR alumni, with the sixth currently a junior on East Campus. The Jones family brings a diverse set of degrees – ranging from agricultural communications and agribusiness to animal science – to their dayto-day ranch work. They are using their education to reach new markets, adopt precision ag technologies, improve herd genetics and prepare their operation for long-term success. It’s deeply rewarding to see CASNR alumni (and one current student) putting their knowledge to work in such innovative and forward-thinking ways. Of course, like many institutions of higher education, the University of Nebraska faces financial headwinds. Our leadership is working diligently to navigate these challenges while remaining committed to our land-grant mission. We will continue to be responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us and do all we can to serve Nebraska’s people, economy and industries. As always, thank you for your partnership and for all you do to support Nebraska’s largest industry. We are proud to serve you. ~NC~
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