8 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN September 2025 NC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Richard (Dick) Pierce*, Miller, (308) 440-2489 PRESIDENT-ELECT: Craig Uden*, Johnson Lake, (308) 325-0285 VICE PRESIDENT: Eric Hansen, North Platte, (308) 530-3899 PAST PRESIDENT: Jerry Kuenning*, Lemoyne, (308) 883-8382 SECRETARY/TREASURER: Laura Field, Lincoln, (402) 326-7743 MEMBER SERVICES VICE CHAIR BY REGION 1 – Jaclyn Wilson, Lakeside, (308) 762-3196 2 – Lydia O’Brien, Whitman, (308) 546-7349 3 – Allan Louthan, Stanton, (402) 841-6601 4 – John Kennedy, Primrose, (308) 920-2828 5 – Jim Edwards, Ord, (308) 750-0881 6 – Bob Wiseman, Hershey, (308) 530-3137 7 – Heath Clausen, Leigh, (402) 750-4433 8 – Becky Funk, DVM, Lawrence, (308) 360-3179 9 – Erica Schluntz, Naponee, (308) 920-3191 COW-CALF COUNCIL CHAIR: Travis Chrisman, Wauneta, (308) 883-6781 VICE CHAIR: Jake Johnson, Hastings, (402) 984-8824 FARMER-STOCKMAN COUNCIL CHAIR: Dwight Dam, Hooper, (402) 720-4250 VICE CHAIR: FEEDLOT COUNCIL CHAIR: Ryan Danehey, Manhattan, Kan., (308) 440-8267 VICE CHAIR: Daron Huyser, Lexington, (308) 233-4368 SEEDSTOCK COUNCIL CHAIR: James Felt, Wakefield, (402) 287-2488 VICE CHAIR: Kristian Rennert, Elm Creek, (308) 440-9463 ALLIED INDUSTRIES COUNCIL Jake Pullen, Aurora, (308) 380-9040 ~ COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ~ ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION CHAIR: Jeff Heldt, Scottsbluff, (308) 641-5781 CHAIR-ELECT: Scott Reynolds, DVM, Broken Bow, (308) 870-0970 BRAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS CHAIR: Matt Blackford, Thedford, (402) 322-1377 CHAIR-ELECT: Robert Star, Hershey, (308) 520-3488 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CHAIR: Suzanne Jagels, Davenport, (402) 469-3374 CHAIR-ELECT: Kelly Terrell, Gothenburg, (308) 930-2162 MARKETING AND COMMERCE CHAIR: Chance McLean, Stromsburg, (402) 366-2254 CHAIR-ELECT: Marshall Hansen, Omaha, (402) 616-4541 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT CHAIR: Sam Drinnin, Grand Island, (402) 910-0233 CHAIR-ELECT: Logan Pribbeno, Imperial, (308) 883-7770 TAXATION CHAIR: Stephen Sunderman, Norfolk, (402) 750-0149 CHAIR-ELECT: Steven Wellman, Syracuse, (402) 269-7024 MEMBER SERVICES CHAIR: Quentin Dailey, Lexington, (308) 293-1144 NEBRASKA LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION REP. Bryce Dibbern, Interior, S.D., (308) 293-7766 UNL EXTENSION REPRESENATIVE Erin Laborie, Beaver City, (419) 494-3872 UNL REPRESENTATIVE Deb VanOverbeke, Lincoln, (402) 714-5879 * member of the Executive & Finance Committee INSIGHTS ARE YOU WILLING TO SHOW UP? BECKY FUNK, DVM | LAWRENCE REGION 8 MEMBERSHIP VICE CHAIR “The world is run by those who show up.” While I am unsure who to attribute this quote to or even who first uttered it to me, it stuck with me and has shaped my approach to service in both my professional and personal life. In addition to serving as the Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Region 8 Membership vice chair, I’m a small operation cattle producer and beef cattle veterinarian from Lawrence. Increasingly, there seems to be a decline in individuals willing to take leadership roles or to show up; our community boards and foundations, 4-H councils, church boards, county Extension boards all seem to struggle to recruit new blood. If you’re like me, you’ve likely noticed that the same folks tend to sit around the table year after year, and often it’s harder to get off a board than on one. Professional organizations that I’m a member of dedicate large amounts of time and resources to figuring out how we keep young membership engaged and encourage them to contribute to the organization. We are trying to answer the question: What does it take to get younger members to show up? I get it. Everyone is busy. Each year seems to go by faster than the next, and it’s easy to say “maybe next year” or “ask me when the kids are grown.” Oftentimes I hear things like “I’m just not suited for leadership” or “I don’t want to get stuck on the board.” While leaders are important, individuals who are willing to show up are the lifeblood of most organizations. Nebraska Cattlemen is blessed to have excellent leadership. We have a strong executive board, enthusiastic and engaged council and committee chairs and vice chairs, as well as a membership committee that is diligent in their dedication to serving the membership. Despite this, we still need membership willing to show up at all levels to keep the organization moving forward. Showing up doesn’t have to mean running for president or even serving as a committee chair. But, for our leadership to be effective, it does mean that you have to be willing to step up and voice your opinion; attend a committee or council meeting that is tackling issues important to you. Start small, attend an affiliate meeting in your area. Decisions on issues are directed by the NC membership, which means it is critical for NC membership to show up and let us know what is on your mind. Much of the organization’s heavy lifting occurs at either NC Midyear or NC Annual Convention. Even if you can’t make the full meetings, I would challenge you to take the time to attend a council or committee that affects your operation. Showing up here is how Nebraska Cattlemen is able to accomplish the work it stives to do by establishing policy driven by membership and, right or wrong, the membership that shows up generally drives the conversation. We understand every one of our members has a million things on their plates so finding time to show up isn’t easy, but make sure you take the opportunity to do so – it’s the only chance you have to run at least a small part of the world. ~NC~
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