By Laura Maricle

 

 

Three miles southwest of Ashland, tall shade trees guard the Platte River Valley. It is in this valley that Larry Smith started his first purebred Angus cattle herd. Smith began his one-year term as Nebraska Cattlemen president at the annual convention in Kearney Nov. 28-30.

Smith started his cattle business in the Platte River Valley, an area we all know now as Mahoney State Park. Growing up near Ashland, Smith was excited to have a place close to home and, at age 25, he bought registered Angus cows to run on the ranch, eventually running about 100 purebred Angus cows. He marketed the yearling bulls and bred heifers from that herd.

Smith had been interested in Angus since he was in high school. “I showed my first purebred Angus heifer in 4-H when I was a senior in high school,” Smith said.

Smith bought that 4-H heifer from an Angus ranch in Gillette, Wyo. His family had previously been in the business of selling Grade A milk from their Shorthorns and a few Holsteins when they decided to change their operation to focus on commercial Angus cows.

After spending six or seven years on the land that gave him his start, in 1996, Smith decided to purchase the property. He bought the land through a verbal contract, which unfortunately later fell through. Smith still has fond memories of that place. “It was a real good time in my life. My oldest son was born on the place,” Smith recalls.

While living on the ranch that is now Mahoney State Park, Smith was recognized with the Outstanding Young Farmers Award in 1965. In 1968, Smith and his family moved their cowherd south of Ainsworth. The Smith family lived there for less than a year and then moved back to the Ashland area. His parents had rented a 200-acre farm since December 1945 and, in 1967, they purchased it. This property is the cornerstone on which Smith has built and developed his farming and cow-calf operation.

Risk taking is simply part of a rancher’s way of life. In order to expand and increase an individual’s success, a producer must take a few risks. “My father thought I was crazy when I bought my first farm,” Smith said.

Smith’s parents were raised during the Depression and, as a result, were very cautious about buying anything. If they didn’t have the money, they didn’t spend it. “A challenge for my generation was using financial credit to buy land and livestock,” Smith said.

Smith farmed with his father until about 1980 when he bought out his dad’s share in the operation, enabling his dad to retire.

Because of Smith’s commitment to the Nebraska Cattlemen, he has recently cut back his cowherd to a manageable size while serving as president. He kept his best cows and plans to rebuild his herd after he completes his term.

“I am looking to change the style of cow I breed for, aiming for a more moderate frame size,” Smith said.

Smith’s interest and proactive involvement in the beef industry has set him up to be an influential member of the Nebraska Cattlemen.

Smith first became interested in the Nebraska Cattlemen in 1982 through friends who were part of the association. “A friend on the Saunders County Board of Directors bought bulls from me and encouraged me to go to a meeting and get involved,” Smith said.

He became even more interested when he started attending state conventions. Smith served as the Saunders County president from 1996 to 2006 and currently sits on the Saunders County Board of Directors. He also served as the state Farmer-Stockman president in 2001, was vice president in 2002-2003 and was elected president again in 2004. In 2005, Smith was awarded the Outstanding Farmer-Stockmen Council Member award.

“It was the first year they gave out the award and I appreciated the honor,” Smith said.

Smith was elected state vice president in 2005, aligning him for president-elect, president and past president positions, each one year of service.

Each year, the Saunders County Cattlemen takes an educational tour to a different state. This year will mark the 50^th tour, and a group of about 40 members hopes to travel around California. Not long after Smith became active in the Nebraska Cattlemen, he convinced his dad to join and attend the annual tours with him. “My dad and I shared 10 or so good tours, which he thoroughly enjoyed. We traveled all around the country, from Texas to Canada and Montana to Kentucky,” Smith said.

Smith has enjoyed farming and ranching, but feels that his greatest accomplishment is raising three great kids who are a credit to society. His oldest son, Doug, and his family of five children live on the Smith home place. Doug is a schoolteacher in Omaha, and his wife, Crystal, is a part-time speech pathologist. Smith’s son, Brian, and his wife, Kristi, live in Greenwood with their four children. Brian is an elementary school teacher at Ashland-Greenwood, and Kristi owns a health consultation business. Smith’s daughter, Lorinda, and her three children live within a few miles of Smith. Lorinda has run a home daycare for years but is planning on changing occupations.

Smith has not only been a dedicated member of the Nebraska Cattlemen but also of Ashland, his hometown. Smith has been a member of the Cedar Hill United Methodist Church for 55 years. “I think I’ve served on every position except janitor, and that’s because janitors are paid,” Smith chuckled.

He has also been an active member of the Masonic Lodge in Ashland for 48 years, serving as master in 1968, 1997 and 2004. Smith also served as worthy patron of the Eastern Star for six separate terms, each term being one year. Smith has been an active Shriner for 45 years. He is a charter member and has served as president twice for the Platte Valley Shrine Club. Smith has served 20 years on local school boards, the last eight of which were spent at Ashland-Greenwood School District 1. Earlier years were served at District 81 in Cass County.

Smith is passionate about his family, his farm, his community and the beef industry. He is looking forward to the upcoming year and all the opportunities it has to offer. “I plan to continue our education programs through area meetings to discuss hot topics and our policies on these issues,” Smith stated.

As with any new endeavor, Smith is excited to meet new people and share ideas. He feels the coming year will be a great experience and is ready to get started. Y Laura Maricle, Albion, is NC’s fall communication intern and a Beef Industry Scholar student at UNL majoring in ag journalism.

 

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Caption: Larry Smith, standing outside his Ashland home, is prepared to take over the NC Presidency for 2008.

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