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American and International consumers expect safe, quality beef. U.S beef producers work to provide this expectation through program's like the industry's Beef Quality Assurance program. Created in 1987 by state and national cattlemen's associations, BQA brings together producers with one strong goal: to produce safe, wholesome beef that provides a great beef experience every time.
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The Nebraska Cattlemen's Beef Quality Assurance Program's mission is "To maximize consumer confidence in and acceptance of beef by focusing the producer's attention to daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness and quality of beef and beef products through the use of science, research and education initiatives." Nebraska has developed and implemented an industry leading BQA program for nearly 10 years.
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The Nebraska BEEF 706 seminar is an intensive two-day course held with the support of the Nebraska Beef Council and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. The seminar offers producers and industry representatives the opportunity to participate in the entire beef production system from live animal evaluation to carcass fabrication to tenderness evaluation. Seminars are conducted three times throughout the year at the UN-L facilities in Lincoln.
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Beef 808 is an advanced educational opportunity designed to follow Beef 706. Beef 808 includes more panel-based discussion with key industry and association leaders detailing the opportunities and challenges associated with producing and marketing beef and beef products. Beef 808 focuses on beef products, from the packing house to the plate, participants have the opportunity to interact with industry experts and research specialists. Beef 808 works as a conduit from consumers to producers, as industry representatives detail retail and foodservice demands. In partnership with the Nebraska Beef Council and the University of Nebraska Lincoln, the Nebraska Cattlemen encourage all graduates of Beef 706 to attend and participate in the next level of beef production courses.
The Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes Nebraska Cattlemen in all segments of the industry whose natural resource stewardship practices contribute to the environment and enhance productivity and profitability. The goal is to demonstrate sound environmental practices that are sound production practices. Winners are chosen based upon the systems, methods and approaches used to enhance the environment. Examples include: increasing stocking rates, controlling feedlot runoff, beneficial utilization of manure and effluent, erosion control practices, increasing and maintaining wildlife habitat, or other enhancements to the land.
The state winner receives a trip to the NCBA Annual Convention and the opportunity to represent Nebraska Cattlemen in NCBA's National Environmental Stewardship Award competition. The state winner is also used for extensive media coverage throughout Nebraska.
Recent State Award Winners:
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Michael & Cynthia Kelly - Kelly Ranch, Sutherland, Nebraska
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Harry & Doris Knobbe - Harry Knobbe Feedyards, West Point, Nebraska
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David & Loretta Hamilton - Reed Hamilton Ranch, Thedford, Nebraska
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The Mercer Family - Double M Farms, Inc., Kearney, Nebraska
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William & Kathy Rhea - Rhea Cattle Company, Arlington, Nebraska
Presented during the Annual Nebraska Cattlemen Convention in December, this prestigious award is the highest honor that the Nebraska Cattlemen can give one of its members. Selection is based on four criteria: contributions to the beef cattle industry; contribution to the Nebraska Cattlemen association (NC); community and civic contributions; and cattle business accomplishments.
Nominations are from NC affiliates and are judged by the Nominations Committee, which uses a point system. Each affiliate can nominate one candidate. The inductee is recognized during the Convention with a presentation that chronicles the highlights of the recipient’s accomplishments. A feature article about the winner is published in the Nebraska Cattleman magazine. For the inaugural event in 2002, the NC Board inducted the 14 recipients of the Nebraska Cattleman of the Year Award: Jerry Adamson, Cody; Frank Bruning, Bruning; Byron Eatinger, Thedford; Jim Gran, Gordon; Charles Iodence, Hemingford; John Klosterman, David City; Harry Knobbe, West Point; Jack Maddux, Wauneta; Rowland McClymont, Holdrege; Dick Mercer, Kearney; E.H. "Shoey" Shoemaker, North Platte; Frank Sibert, Valentine; Pat Vinton, deceased; and Arnold Wright, Mullen.
Nebraska Cattlemen Hall of Fame Award Recipients
For more information about this award or to obtain a nomination form contact either your local affiliate president or the NC Lincoln office at 402-475-2333.
The Nebraska Cattlemen Industry Service Award recognizes outstanding non-producers based on their contributions to the beef cattle industry and to the Nebraska Cattlemen. The list of recipients confirms that producers have great allies.
Nebraska Cattlemen Industry Service Award Recipients
LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD
In 2006 Nebraska Cattlemen, in collaboration with Wisconsin-based Sand County Foundation, established the Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska. Given in honor of Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award, consisting of $10,000 and a Leopold crystal, recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In his book, A Sand County Almanac (1949), Aldo Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage – which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”
Nominations are evaluated and finalists selected by a panel of judges from organizations such as Nebraska Department of Agriculture; Nebraska Land Trust; Sand Hills Task Force; and, Nebraska Environmental Trust. Sand County Foundation choses the final winner.
Sand County Foundation (www.sandcounty.net) is a private, non-profit conservation group dedicated to working with private landowners to improve habitat on their land. The organization backs local champions and places incentives before regulation to create solutions that endure and grow. The organization encourages the exercise of private responsibility in the pursuit of improved land health.
In 2007, Sand County Foundation will present Leopold Conservation Awards in five other states: Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, and California.
Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award Recipients
The Nebraska Cattlemen Sanctioned Team Penning program was formed over 15 years ago as a fun and stimulating family event for men, women and children of all ages. NCSTP gives ranchers and feedyard cowboys the opportunity to use their skills in competition against each other for cash, prizes, and points towards the State Finals competition. The program has become so popular recently that there are approximately 40 events scheduled between April and September each year with nearly 40 teams competing in each of two divisions, "Pro" and "Pro/Am". The NCSTP season culminates in September with the State Finals competition, where the 25 teams with the highest number of points in their division compete for season finale cash and prizes. Events consist of timed competitions in which three-person teams on horseback sort designated cattle from a herd and "pen" them in a small holding pen at the opposite end of the arena.
All Nebraska Cattlemen members are eligible to compete in the NCSTP program. In fact, all three riders on a team must be current paying members of the association and in good standing. Typically, competition entry fees range from $60 to $70 dollars per team for the Pro division and $45 to $55 per team for the Pro/Am division. Pro/Am teams are allowed to only have one rider who competed in the "Open" (Pro) division of the 1997 State Finals competition or in any State Finals competition prior to the 1997 season.
For a complete copy of the NCSTP Rules and Regulations or for other information regarding the program contact the NC office, (402) 475-2333. The NC office can direct interested persons to the NCTP coordinator. The NCTP Program is not sponsored nor managed by NC. The association allows NCTP to use its name to recruit NCTP participants and NC members.
The Beef Pit has become a favorite State Fair tradition. The Cattlemen’s air-conditioned barbecue restaurant at the State Fair attracts some 12,000 guests during the events 11-day run each September, providing the industry with a key opportunity to promote the healthy and enjoyable experience of beef. Volunteers from Nebraska Cattlemen affiliates, the Nebraska Beef Council and other allied commodity and farm organizations staff the Beef Pit. Their help has been essential to success of the Beef Pit program. Individuals or organizations interested in participating in this program can contact the NC office.
The Nebraska Cattlemen/Nebraska CattleWomen Convention and Trade Show is the three-day event during which members consider issues and programs for the new year. Council, Committee and Board Meetings set the convention stage as the organizations review and set policy. In addition to the business meetings, the Convention includes educational seminars, entertainment and a sell-out Trade Show at which cattlemen can visit with suppliers of livestock and livestock handling products and services.
2008 Annual Convention will be Dec. 10-12 in Kearney. Registration information will be added on-line as soon as possible.
Held during the summer, the Midyear Conference is a streamlined version of the annual convention. Members gather to attend committee meetings and educational sessions, including a Board of Directors meetings.
2009 Midyear Conference dates and location will be added on-line as soon as possible.
The Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic is a seedstock show and sale originated by the Nebraska Cattlemen Purebred Council as a vehicle to showcase the quality of cattle from the region. Held in Kearney starting on the third Tuesday in February, this five-day event has become Nebraska’s beef cattle showcase, with entrants from surrounding states as well. In addition to the show which crowns male and female champions for each breed and then an overall champion, individual breed sales are held in conjunction the same day the cattle are shown during the week, with buyers from across the country taking part. Sales from this annual event approach $1 million each year. More information is available from the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic office at 1-800-652-9435.
Each year, Nebraska Cattlemen hosts its two-day Young Cattlemen's Leadership Conference for up-and-coming members of the association. The conference includes presentations and working sessions on topics such as association programs and policies; how to build a leadership team; media training and getting more involved in the legislative process. This sponsored event is designed to groom members for leadership roles such as the Board of Directors, Council and Policy Committee and Subcommittee Chairmanship.
The mission of the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation (NC Foundation) is to raise and provide funds for educational and scientific activities that benefit the beef cattle producers of Nebraska, as well as to advance the overall purpose of the Nebraska Cattlemen.
Programs include: 1) $1,000 scholarships for undergraduate students (applications are available after Jan. 1 and must be returned by March 1st); 2) Leadership Development Awards, which send emerging NC members each year to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Spring Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.; 3) The endowed Nebraska Cattle Industry Professor of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska, which is helping keep and attract top researchers and specialists to Nebraska; 4) Endowed scholarship support for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Feedlot Management Course; 5) A sponsor of the Nebraska Livestock Judging Classic, which attracts more than 250 high school and college youth from across the Great Plains; 6) Sponsoring one of two participants the Nebraska Cattlemen is entitled to send to the national Young Cattlemen’s Conference, a program in which promising producers from around the country get a closer look at important aspects of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the industry.
In addition, the Foundation has an endowed fund to support for UNL judging team members.
Plans include establishing: 1) an endowed Professorship of Range Management; 2) an endowed fund to provide scholarships for a UNL Ranch Management Course; 3) an endowed Professorship of Human Nutrition; 4) a program for graduates or alumni of NC and NC Foundation leadership programs; 5) preserve the cattlemen’s rich heritage and look for ways to expose school children, the general public and public officials to the people and the industry on which this state’s history and economy are based.