The following are some of the new members who joined Nebraska Cattlemen association this past winter.

“We want to recognize these people for stepping up to the plate and working to secure the future of their industry,” says Melody Benjamin, NC’s director of Member Services.

It’s been two months since the last magazine and, during that time, NC staff and officers saw the wrap-up of the 2006 Nebraska Legislature. It was a successful legislative session for the association, with three out of four priority bills passed. It meant hours and hours of meetings with senators and their staffs, as well as testifying before committees, buttonholing senators in the hallways, and forming coalitions and compromises with other interest groups. Property tax relief, environmental issues, public schools, business growth incentives, worker’s comp reform and taxes were some of the issues that NC addressed. And it wasn’t just Lincoln staff at the Capitol; NC leadership and board members put many miles on the truck coming to the statehouse to represent members’ interests. In return, NC staff put the miles on as they wrapped up the winter banquet season at local cattlemen’s affiliates across the state.

This continuing Nebraska Cattleman feature will highlight some of the news from rural Nebraska and its small towns. The goal of Cattlemen’s Digest is to round up a variety of stories about the adventures and accomplishments of cattle producers from across the state, from Lyman to Spiker and Naper to Naponee.

Read all about it at http://www.nebraskacattlemen.org/ncmagazine.

Anyone who has attended the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic each February in Kearney is probably familiar with West Fork Ranch’s exhibits of Charolais and Red Angus cattle. Equally familiar is Roseanne Wilson – or Rosie as most people know her – who presents the cattle. During the 2006 Classic, I was able to take a few minutes of Rosie’s time to ask questions about her family’s Nebraska-based business.

The Nebraska Cattlemen faced some critical issues during the last session of the Unicameral, which ended in April. Several key bills were debated that will have far-reaching impact on our lives and our ability to continue as cattle producers. I don’t recall a session that had so many priorities coming at us at once. That was only the beginning of the challenges. It was a short session (60 days), which always makes passage of bills difficult. There were some contentious issues, such as the concealed weapons bill and Omaha schools turf wars that divided the chamber, generated hours of debate, and used a lot of precious time. It was also the last chance for 20 term-limited senators to pass bills that were dear to them. When you add it all up, the odds of passing NC’s priority bills seemed long indeed.

As part of a national animal-movement-tracking initiative, more than 25 percent of Nebraska livestock premises are registered, and the state is shooting for 33 percent by Aug. 4. Registration covers not only farms, feedlots and ranches, but everywhere that livestock may visit, including sale barns, veterinary clinics and fairgrounds. (The State Fair has registered.) On these two pages, two Nebraska veterinarians make the case for premises registration and the disease-traceback capability that will result.

More cash prizes have been added to this year’s annual Nebraska Cattlemen Photo Contest.

Record-breaking low temperatures were reported during this year’s Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic, even as some events set record-high prices.

The Nebraska Cattlemen’s Midyear Meeting will be held in Holdrege on June 8-9. Holdrege, the home of current NC President Pete McClymont, along with the Phelps-Gosper NC affiliate, will be hosting this year’s meeting and invite cattle producers from across the state to venture to south-central Nebraska for the event.

‘Voices of the American West’ • Book Excerpt: Last in a Three-Part Series

A nationwide livestock ID system has been long awaited and much discussed. Some consider it to be marked with dissension when in reality it is marked with our individuality and independence.

It’s that time of the year again for horse riders and horse lovers to gear up for the 2006 season of Nebraska Cattlemen’s Team Penning.