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Guest Editorial
Nebraska Cattlemen Kicks Off $150,000 Fund Drive to Assist UNL
By Jay Wolf
The Nebraska Cattlemen Research & Education Foundation has announced a $150,000 fundraising campaign to support the University of Nebraska at Lincoln’s (UNL) College of Agriculture. “This is a major project for our foundation,” said David Bruntz, NC Foundation chairman. “We have looked at the state beef industry’s needs and believe these dollars are necessary if we expect UNL to continue to meet those needs.”
Nebraska’s cattle industry has a critical relationship with UNL as the primary source of research and Extension for beef producers. UNL is also the main source of education for future agriculture leaders. So, for both alums and non-alums, a strong UNL is important for the long-term viability of Nebraska’s beef industry.
During the past few years, UNL has endured several rounds of budget cuts due to shrinking state funding and student enrollment. This has resulted in staff reductions, largely through attrition. Professors Jim Gosey, Terry Klopfenstein, Roger Mandigo, Ivan Rush, Ron Hansen, Lowell Mosier, Dillon Feuz and others have either left or have plans to leave, and indications are that many will not be replaced. These educators and others like them are the lifeblood of our industry. NC had to act and we have. Now it is time for you to be informed about what we are doing so you can join in the effort.
NC has identified four primary areas that need action: fundraising, recruitment, advisory and the judging team.
The University relies on contributions and the beef industry needs to step up to the plate. The NC Foundation has committed to donate $150,000 over a three-year period. This contribution is part of our overall program in the advisory, recruitment and judging team areas. Funds will be used primarily for scholarships to help increase enrollment. UNL’s administration insists there needs to be more students majoring in beef-related fields for the College of Animal Science to maintain the level of staffing needed to support our industry.
Scholarships will be primarily for freshmen and transfer students enrolling in the college and majoring in beef-related fields. We will also support the livestock and meat judging teams, feedlot management internships, grazing lands management internships and students transferring from the Nebraska College of Technical Ag at Curtis. The Animal Science Department has hired a fulltime recruiter and is in the process of adding a fulltime judging team coach. We are confident these people, when armed with these powerful new tools, will be able to aggressively recruit students for the College of Agriculture and especially beef majors in the Animal Science Department.
Fundraising is only one portion of the efforts underway. Recruitment will be perhaps the most important role we can fill. Enrollment needs to increase if we want UNL to be fully staffed with research, Extension and teaching personnel. NC has offered to be UNL’s “boots on the ground recruiting service.” NC will form local recruiting committees in each affiliate area. Please contact Chris Kalkowski at (402) 934-1646 if you wish to get involved. We need your help!
The Advisory Committee will meet with UNL leaders bimonthly to express our concerns about many issues. This team will be a conduit between NC and UNL to ensure that our industry needs are understood and served. The committee will be led by Nancy Peterson. She can be reached at (308) 360-1996.
The UNL Judging Team needs some improvement, and NC intends to be a catalyst for change. A fulltime coach is a must, and UNL has agreed to that request. NC will be contacting judging team alumni as the coaching position and other issues are addressed. Call Dave Hamilton at (308) 645-2521 if you wish to join in the efforts.
We have already raised $50,000 and are confident that members like you will see the value of pitching in to assist in achieving our $150,000 goal. Please fill out the pledge card in the adjoining box and HELP UNL HELP US!
UNL Fundraising Committee members are NC President-Elect Jay Wolf, co-chairman; NC R&EF Board member George Cooksley, co-chair; and committee members Al Svajgr, J.D. Alexander, Sid Salzman, Bill Rhea and Jeff Pribbeno. By Jay Wolf, NC president-elect and co-chairman of the UNL Fundraising Committee.
Sidebar:
Positive Developments
There have already been some very positive developments at UNL. New student enrollment and total students enrolled in the Animal Science Department are the highest since 1996. Animal Science is now the largest department in the College of Agriculture. Those numbers need to grow, but that is good news indeed. Three positions critical to beef producers are in the process of being filled. A search for replacements for Jim Gosey, beef genetics Extension, and Don Adams, beef cow nutrition and management at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Lab, is underway. Furthermore, the search for a fulltime judging team coach is also underway. The Nebraska Cattlemen played important roles in helping bring about these vital changes.
Pledge Card
Pledge Card
Name: ________________________________________
Street: _______________________________________
City: __________________________________________
State: ____________Zip: _______________________
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Amount Pledged: ___________________________
Mail to: Nebraska Cattlemen 134 S. 13th Street, Suite 900 Lincoln, NE 68508-1917
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