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On one busy day, Gothenburg senior wins state speech, earns FFA presidency
Gothenburg's Carson Reiman presents his state champion in senior public speaking award from the State FFA Convention held in Lincoln.
March 27 was anything but a normal day for Gothenburg's Carson Reiman.
When he boarded the bus for the state speech competition in Kearney, he also knew his name was in the running for state FFA president.
The Gothenburg High School senior was dressed to the nines, drawing topics for his extemporaneous performances, while a committee at the state FFA convention in Lincoln was deciding his future with that program.
When he got the news that he needed to attend the FFA ceremony, he was taken into a classroom at state speech in Kearney and Zoomed into the FFA event.
"I got to see the entire livestream, but I wasn't actually there," Reiman said. "It was a lot. OK, so I actually made it to finals in (extemporaneous speaking) and our OID made finals, so that time frame really overlapped. So, kind of in the middle of my extemp, I was like, oh, I have to go figure out in like 30 minutes if I have to go to this (FFA) announcement or whatever. So, for me, it was a lot, but it was kind of fun having all of that on the same day. It made it busy, but I didn't have enough time really to think about anything, so I just kind of went to the next thing."
Extemporaneous speaking relies more on notes, natural delivery and audience engagement than memorization. Competitors draw a topic and are given a set time to research it before speaking.
On top of being at state speech and awaiting the results of his FFA presidency, Reiman drew an intense extemporaneous speech topic.
"So, I wrote four different speeches on Friday, but the last one I gave in the finals was one of the worst questions I've pulled so far this year," he said. "It was on how do lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war shift the current war in Myanmar in favor of the military government."
To prepare for his final speech, Reiman looked into the Iran oil crisis, embargos and the Russia-Ukraine war.
"I've been in speech since my freshman year of high school," Reiman said. "So that's four years in speech and six years in FFA."
Those years in speech paid off as Reiman was named state extemporaneous champion and was a member of the winning oral interpretation of drama team as well.
The entire Gothenburg speech team was named the Class C-1 state champions.
Reiman has no current plans to continue his speech career in college, instead turning his complete focus to agriculture and FFA.
"With state FFA office, next year looks pretty busy for me," Reiman said. "My first semester of college will be normal, but then my second semester is going to be completely online because of all those chapter visits and stuff that I'll be going to. So, I'll still go on with FFA, but speech probably ends here."
Reiman explained that he ran for FFA president because he wanted to make a difference and give back to the program that has nurtured him as he's grown.
During the state FFA convention, Reiman was the state champion in senior public speaking and the state champion in vegetable production proficiency, of which both were national qualifiers.
Reiman received a State Star in production and earned his state degree.
He and the other officers will be responsible for organizing and running FFA events.
Though he will no longer be competing and participating in the actual events, he will be behind the scenes promoting them and helping the students involved.
He hopes his FFA experience will help him in his major, as he plans to study agricultural economics.
"So my plan is, hopefully, to come back to rural Nebraska" after college, Reiman said. "I want to manage a seed and chemical company or some kind of ag sales management position. And, for me, it really comes back to coming back to a hometown, somewhere local. I've got a big family and stuff, and so staying close to home is important to me, but that's where I'll be in the future."
Reiman's parents, Mark and Miranda, were huge supporters, he said. "They definitely put in a lot of hours driving me, and I'm super grateful for that."
Along with his parents, Reiman said he couldn't have gotten as far as he did in speech and FFA without the help of his FFA adviser Annalisa Mosel and his speech coach, Kaitlin Clark.
Reiman was excited to finish his senior speech season by bringing home a trophy and is looking forward to his future in agricultural economics.
He said he couldn't have done it without his family, friends, teammates and the support of the Gothenburg community.
News
Top Story Spotlight
Dawson County Commissioners vote 3-2 to approve RYDE funds
The Dawson County Board of Commissioners approved the county's federal funding for RYDE Transit after a lengthy discussion and a 3-2 vote.
At Wednesday's meeting, Charles McGraw of RYDE Transit Public Transportation requested that the commissioners consider approving a local funding match of $25,255 for the program.
Chairman PJ Jacobson and board member Kevin Swanson expressed concern about the county budget and uneven distribution of rides across the county.
Jacobson said the commissioners have had to say no to several people asking for funds lately because the budget is tight. He said, "We're one of the few counties that have been hit this hard."
Swanson asked McGraw how many total rides were being given in Dawson County and how they were divided among towns. McGraw said 16,591 rides occur annually, and approximately 16,000 of those originate in Lexington. The other 591 are mainly from Gothenburg, Cozad and Sumner.
Since the majority of RYDE users are from Lexington, Swanson asked if funds could be shifted so the City of Lexington contributed more and the county contributed less.
Lexington Mayor John Fagot said the City Council has not yet been presented with its funding match for the RYDE program, but he was confident it will be approved.
However, he said that, as far as he was aware, the city's proposed contribution would be less than the amount it contributed to the program the previous year.
Board members asked whether the city instead would be willing to contribute what it did last year. Fagot said he could not answer that because the City Council still has to discuss the proposal.
Speaking as both Lexington's mayor and a Dawson County citizen, Fagot said, "If it wasn't for RYDE, I wouldn't be able to do the things I do for the community."
Fagot said RYDE helps people feel independent, and that if it didn't exist, hundreds of people would be too ashamed to ask friends and family for rides, in fear of being a burden. That could ultimately affect their employment, he said.
"I urge you," Fagot said, "to look at RYDE as a county asset and not an area one. This is something that is valuable to the entire county."
Both Fagot and citizen Jan Benner said they believed that fewer rides originate in communities outside Lexington not just because of population, but also lack of knowledge of the program.
"I've heard from people in Gothenburg that they are being told not to use RYDE," Fagot said. "They're being told that they need to use the van they have there to transport people or that their town is small enough that they can walk places."
"If it wasn't for word of mouth, I never would have known about RYDE," said Benner. Benner, a Lexington resident, used RYDE when she had knee replacement surgery and said it was a "godsend."
Benner's brother also uses RYDE to access the YMCA, and when her mother was alive, she used it to go to medical appointments and Walmart.
Vicky Snider, of Cozad, echoed Benner's sentiments.
"In 2017, I had a stroke and couldn't drive," she said. "I used RYDE for medical appointments and tried to plan my appointments around their schedule. They were always on time, courteous, and I felt safe with them."
Mike Dowling, chief experience officer for Lexington Regional Health Center, told the commissioners, "Patients rely on (RYDE) for lifesaving medical treatments. It's really critical that these services be provided."
The board asked Dowling if the hospital donates to the RYDE program. Dowling said it doesn't donate directly, but helps families who cannot afford RYDE services.
According to McGraw, the average price of a ride is $28, but it fluctuates depending on the destination. For instance, trips to Kearney are more expensive than a trip to the local grocery store.
The RYDE buses run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are kept in a building that the program owns on Plum Creek Parkway during off-hours.
Currently, Cozad is serviced regularly on Tuesdays, Gothenburg on Thursdays, and either city on Wednesdays, depending on ride demand. Smaller villages, like Sumner, are grouped into Gothenburg and Cozad routes when possible.
In Lexington, RYDE activity is down 200 rides because of the Tyson closure, but McGraw said that "was to be expected."
Fagot said, "Think of the people who use it for work. If they work at 6 in the morning and can't get a ride, they have to start walking to work at 5. Then they have to walk back home afterwards."
When the commissioners voted on the funding, Jacobson and Swanson were the only two votes against it.
Also during the meeting, the board approved submission of a VOCA grant for CASA, an amended and new conservation easement for Stitch Ranch LLC, and the Cardinal Assessment Group contract for property reviews.
A report on the courthouse remodel was given by Vice Chairman Rod Reynolds and Emergency Manager Brian Woldt.
They stated that the new DMV room is almost ready to open. Glass for the windows is expected to arrive on Monday, and the entire room should be ready to open within a week.
There are some concerns with heating as the fans seem to be running continuously, but Woldt said he believes "this can be fixed with a simple phone call."
At the end of the meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss the public defender contract negotiations. When they came out of the session, they voted to present the contract to the current applicants.
Prior to the commissioners' meeting, the Board of Equalization approved a vehicle tax exemption for Camp Comeca for a 2003 Honda Accord and a 1999 homemade flatbed trailer.
The board also unanimously approved a tax list correction for Emerald Cozad Realty.
The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 15.
Around Town
The Around Town section of the Clipper-Herald is to notify the public of upcoming events and to publicize pertinent information from individuals, groups or service organizations.
PEOPLE
The family of David and Beverley Kitzing announces an open house for their parents' 70th anniversary Sunday, April 12 from 2-5 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington.
LEXINGTON HAPPENINGS
Lexington Community Foundation Key 2026 event Saturday, April 11 from 5-8 p.m. at The Well in Lexington.
The Dawson County Children's Museum is hosting a T-RRIFIC Dinosaur Day Saturday, April 11 at 10 a.m. Admission is $5 per person.
"Tell a Story, Write a Poem" with former state poet Matt Mason Thursday, April 9 at 6 p.m. at the Lexington Public Library.
There will be a grand opening for the Women's Resource Center Tuesday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. at 612 N. Grant St.
Plum Creek Quilt Guild guest night "Old Lady Trunk Show" Thursday, April 9 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Lexington Grand Generation Center.
Lexington Food Drive is accepting donations until April 17. Items needed: peanut butter, canned vegetables, canned tuna, pasta sauce and pasta. Drop-off locations are Orthman Community YMCA and Plum Creek Market Place.
Lexington Public Library is hosting four creative writing classes on Monday, April 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 2-3:30 p.m.
VFW 5136 Auxiliary will hold its quarterly meeting Tuesday, April 7 at 9:15 a.m. at the Pinnacle Bank meeting room They will be discussing possible consolidation with VFW 890 Auxiliary.
Lexington City Council meeting Tuesday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the city office building.
Teacher's Night Out with CASA Thursday, April 16 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Central Community College.
Free community shredding event Friday, April 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: 617 N. Grant St., Lexington.
Vendors are needed for the Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA April 17 from 6-9 p.m. Contact the YMCA before April 6.
LWML Spring Salad Luncheon Thursday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church.
GriefShare meets every Thursday through April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.
Cropping at the Museum: Rescuing the Past April 10-13 at the Dawson County Historical Museum. All proceeds benefit the museum
YMCA Cinco de Mayo 5/10K walk/run Saturday, May 2 at 9 a.m.
.Parkview Baptist Church holds a food pantry every third Saturday of the month at the Refuge Building (1105 Park St.) in Lexington.
The Dawson County History Museum is hosting “Coffee with Carol” the first Wednesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Lexington Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. every fourth Monday of the month at the Lexington Grand Generation Center.
Lexington Rotary Club meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at Dawson County Annex Building at noon. For more information or to join call 308-325-7006.
The Dawson County Democrats meet at 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at the Los Jalapeños Restaurant.
American Legion in Lexington meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles.
WIC Clinic Sites, Dawson County: Lexington – Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska Building, 931 W. Seventh St., Tuesday through Thursday the first 4 full weeks for each month.
RYDE Transit — Public Transportation is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule a ride in Dawson County or Lexington call 308-324-3670. Public Transportation is easy to ride and open to everyone.
COZAD HAPPENINGS
RESCHULED: State Sen. Teresa Ibach will be at the Wilson Public Library for a Community Chat at noon on Wednesday, April 15.
Food for Fines at the Wilson Public Library, the entire month of April. A canned food item waives $2 off a patron's prior fines.
The Wilson Public Library will host a free movie matinee Monday, April 6 at 1:30 p.m.
Design a playground or park during the Wilson Public Library's Lego Park Challenge Tuesday, April 7 at 4 p.m. Legos and snacks are provided and children under 8-years-old need to attend with a helper.
Dine In/Drive Thru Burger Night Thursday, April 9 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Grand Generation Center.
Cozad Grand Generation Center free drive thru grocery night Thursday, April 14 at 5 p.m.
Meet the candidates running for Cozad offices Tuesday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Cozad Grand Generation Center.
Cozad Community Health System is hosting a 75th year open house and remodel ribbon cutting Friday, May 15 from 4-7 p.m.
The Writing Society meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Wilson Public Library. Open to all writers of all levels and genres.
Grand Generation Center drive thru free grocery day from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 9.
Nebraska Scams and Fraud Education program at the Cozad Grand Generation Center Tuesday, April 28 at 1 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m. at the Wilson Public Library.
Blacktop Classics Car Show Saturday, June 6 at 11 a.m. in downtown Cozad on Meridian Avenue.
Bands, Brews and BBQs will be held Saturday, July 11 with the Lemon Fresh Day band headlining the night and opener by Heather Wellman. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. More information on ticket sales will be provided at a later date.
Blood Pressure Clinic at the Cozad Grand Generation Center the third Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m.
The Cozad Grand Generation Center has Home Delivered Meals to the Community Monday — Friday. If you would like to receive Home Delivered Meals or would like to pick up a Curbside Meal at 410 W. Ninth St. from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m., please call us at 308-784-2747 by 9:30 a.m. that morning, so we can arrange everything for your convenience.
The Cozad Grand Generation Center Bus is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule a ride in Cozad call 308-784-2747.
SUMNER HAPPENINGS
The Sumner Saddle Club Pancake Feed is Sunday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sumner Community Hall.
OVERTON HAPPENINGS
The Overton Alumni Association 125th annual banquet will be Sunday, May 24 at 6 p.m. at the Overton school gym. Tickets are $25 each and must be purchased by May 18, and available at First Security Bank in Overton.
GOTHENBURG HAPPENINGS
Dueling Pianos is making a return to Gothenburg Saturday, April 18 at the YMCA. Doors open at 6 p.m. and pianos start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25.
The 51st annual Gothenburg Area Fireman's Ball is set for Saturday, May 30 from 5 p.m. to midnight.
ON THE BIG SCREEN
LEXINGTON
Majestic Theatre, 615 N. Washington St.
Ticket Pricing: Adult $5, Students/Senior Citizens/Child $4
SHOWTIMES:
"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" (PG) - April 4-5, 8 and 10-12, 15; Fridays/Saturdays at 7 p.m., Sundays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
"Project Hail Mary" (PG-13) - April 17-19, 22; Friday/Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m.
COZAD
Fox Theater, 100 E. Eighth St.
Ticket Pricing: Adult $9, Student/Seniors/Military $8, 5 and under $6.50, Matinee (all ages) $6.50
SHOWTIMES:
"Super Mario Galaxy Movie" (PG) - April 4-9; Saturday/Sunday at 4:20 and 7:20 p.m., Monday-Thursday at 7:20 p.m.
"Hopper" (PG) - April 4-9; Saturday/Sunday at 4:10 and 7:10 p.m. and Monday-Thursday at 7:10 p.m.
"The Drama" (R) - April 4-9; Saturday/Sunday at 4 and 7 p.m. and Monday-Thursday at 4 and 7 p.m.
GOTHENBURG
Sun Theatre, 404 10th St.
Ticket Pricing: Adult $5, Child (12 and under) $3, Senior Citizen $4
SHOWTIMES:
"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" (PG) - April 4-5 and 10-12; Friday/Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.
"Project Hail Mary" (PG-13) - April 17-19; Friday/Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The Lexington Public Library hours are: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. — 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. — 5 p.m., Sunday: Closed. Watch for lots of fun programs and activities this summer. Also, we are continuing curbside services; call the library at 308-324-2151 for information.
Novel Stitchers meets on Tuesdays from 3-5 p.m. in the Board Room of the Library.
Storytime meets at the Library on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
The Wilson Public Library normal hours are: Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. — 7 p.m., Friday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. and Saturday: 10 a.m. — 1 p.m. Public and private meetings have resumed, with 24-hour notice appreciated. Limits to how many attendees based upon room need, what equipment is available and other restrictions can be found by calling us at 308-784-2019 or stopping at the front desk. Normal policies about room rental can be found under Policies at wilsonpubliclibrary.org.
LEXINGTON GRAND GENERATION CENTER
The exercise room is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
MONDAY
10 a.m. - Frog
12:45 p.m. - I've Got It
TUESDAY
12:45 p.m. - Pool
1 p.m. - Bunco
1 p.m. - Bridge
WEDNESDAY
12:45 p.m. - Cards
1 p.m. - Frog
THURSDAY
12:45 p.m. - Farkle
12:45 p.m. - Pool
FRIDAY
Noon - Birthday presenter
12:45 p.m. - Cards
1 p.m. - Frog
LEXINGTON GRAND GENERATION CENTER MENU
Homemade bread every day. Choice of skim, 2% or chocolate milk. No reservations are needed except for large groups. Serving time: 11:30 a.m. Please call 308-324-2498 by 10 a.m. for delivery or carryout meals.
MONDAY
Mushroom Steak in Gravy, Red Diced Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Apple Slices
TUESDAY
Monterey Pork, Potato Casserole, Mixed Veggies, Fresh Fruit
WEDNESDAY
Chicken Alfredo, Stewed Tomatoes, Buttered Brussel Sprouts, Pears
THURSDAY
Chili Hot Dogs on Bun, Fries, Baked Beans, Mixed Fruit
FRIDAY
Roast Beef with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Applesauce, Dinner Roll, Dessert
COZAD GRAND GENERATION CENTER
When Cozad schools are closed due to inclement weather, the center will also be closed. Check KRVN or the TV for weather related closings.
MONDAY
10 a.m. - Free Groceries
1 p.m. - Pitch
TUESDAY
Noon- Rotary
1 p.m. - Bridge
1 p.m. - Dominos
1:15 p.m. - Foot Clinic
WEDNESDAY
10 a.m. - Free Groceries
12:30 p.m. - Pinochle
THURSDAY
5 p.m. - Burger Night Dine In/Drive Thru
COZAD GRAND GENERATION CENTER MENU
Salad Bar is available daily with meals served from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
MONDAY
Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Peaches, Apple Tarts
TUESDAY
Pork Chops, Stuffing, Green Beans, Jello Fruit Salad, Ice Cream
WEDNESDAY
Taco Burger, Tater Tots, Mixed Veggies, Pears, Dessert
THURSDAY
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Carrots, Mixed Fruit
FRIDAY
Chicken Salad Sandwich, Wisconsin Cheese Soup, Tropical Fruit, Coleslaw, Brownies
FARNAM SENIOR CENTER
When Eustis-Farnam Schools are closed due to the weather, the Senior Center will also be closed. Call ahead by 9:30 a.m. to get a meal 308-569-2359.
MONDAY
Goulash, Stewed Tomatoes, Lettuce Salad, Fruit Cocktail, Garlic Bread
TUESDAY
Oven Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Peaches, Dinner Roll
WEDNESDAY
Meatloaf, Baked Potato, Corn, Pears, Dinner Roll
THURSDAY
Rueben Sandwich, Potato Wedges, Pea Salad, Apricots
FRIDAY
Saulsbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, Applesauce, Dinner Roll
GOSPER COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
All meals are served with vegetables, fruit and a sweet item. Please call before 10 a.m. for your reservation 308-785-2500. Menu is subject to change without notice.
MONDAY
Chopped Italian Wrap
TUESDAY
Meatloaf
WEDNESDAY
Taco Salad
THURSDAY
Chicken and Dumplings
FRIDAY
Soup and Sandwich
ORGANIZATIONS
It Works Group: AA meetings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. at 303 E. Sixth St., in Lexington.
First Christin Church NA: meets Sundays at 7 p.m., Tuesdays at 8 p.m. 1206 N. Erie St., in Lexington.
Westside Group: AA/NA: open meeting on Monday and Friday nights from 7-8 p.m. Meetings are held at Grace Lutheran Church, 105 E. 17th St., Lexington, use the south door.
Women's Group: meets every Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. on the second floor lounge at the Dawson County Courthouse (700 N. Washington St.)
Celebrate Recovery: Meetings at 7 p.m. on Fridays at Parkview Baptist Church’s Refuge Building (1105 Park St., Lexington) Contact: 308-324-4410.
Four Roads Group AA: meetings are held on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m., Fridays from 7-8 p.m. and Sundays from 7 p.m. at 1801 W. 18th St., in Lexington.
Grupo Lexington AA (Spanish Speaking): open meetings on Saturdays from 8-9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon at 114 W. 6th St. in Lexington.
Group Nueva Vida Lexington (Spanish Speaking): open meetings on Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. at 114 W. Eighth St., in Lexington.
Full of Grace: Meetings from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Nazarene Church at 919 H St., in Cozad.
Southview Group: Meetings from 8-9 p.m. on Wednesdays at 1804 Papio Lane in Cozad.
SMART Recovery meets at St. Peter’s in the Valley Episcopal Church, 905 East 13th St., Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m., Saturdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Sumner AA Group: meets Sundays and Tuesdays from 8-9 p.m. at 205 E. Fifth Avenue, in Sumner. For more information call 308-325-5827.
Bertrand Thurs Night Group: Meetings from 8-9 p.m. on Thursdays at Hope Lutheran Church, 74094 Road 436 in Smithfield. Call 308-785-3567 or 308-472-3376.
Odie Group AA/NA: meetings at 8 p.m. on Sundays in Elwood at 501 Calvert Avenue.
Pony Express Group AA: meetings are held from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Gothenburg Evangelical Free Church (515 18th St.) in Gothenburg.
Thirsty Thursday by the Cemetery: Meetings held on Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church (2002 27th St.) in Gothenburg.
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group meetings are held the second Thursday each month at 2 p.m. at Lexington Regional Health Center (1201 N. Erie St., Lexington). For more information contact Dixie Menke at 308-325-5350.
Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska Immunization Clinic, first and third Mondays every month: Open 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. by appointment at 931 W. Seventh St., Lexington. Previous vaccination records required. Contact 308-325-3436 or 308-325-3169.
Dawson/Gosper County CASA: seeking Volunteers. CASA Volunteers are everyday people from all walks of life, who advocate through the court system in the interests of children. Contact 308-324-7364.
News
Top Story Spotlight
Potential peace deal in brand wars wins 36-4 Unicam backing
An apparent treaty in rural Nebraska’s cattle-brand conflicts won strong Unicameral support Wednesday, with three of western Nebraska’s five lawmakers playing prime roles.
The Legislature gave 36-4 first-round approval to Legislative Bill 1187 after voting 39-1 to adopt one final top-to-bottom rewrite brokered by North Platte state Sen. Mike Jacobson.
Jacobson
His version won unequivocal floor support from Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, a Sandhills rancher and staunch brand defender, as well as Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibach, a farmer-feeder whose southwest Nebraska district includes some of the state’s largest cattle feedlots.
Ibach
“Right now, we have a system in which trust has been eroded, both within the (cattle) industry and within this body,” Jacobson told senators. “Trust must be re-established … It is critical we get something done this year.”
The compromise version “keeps every segment (of the cattle industry) in and subject to inspection and audits,” Storer told her colleagues. “And this has been and will continue to be a non-negotiable for me and the only way we maintain a meaningful system of proof of ownership and oversight needed for deterrence of fraud and theft.”
LB 1187’s reforms “are a testament to the power of collaboration,” Ibach added. “This teamwork reflects Nebraska’s spirit of shared leadership and practical problem-solving by embracing this compromise.”
Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, whose Panhandle district represents both ranchers and feedlots, joined Jacobson, Storer and Ibach in voting to advance LB 1187. Two more rounds of floor debate remain before the measure can be sent to Gov. Jim Pillen.
Gering Sen. Brian Hardin, the fifth lawmaker from Nebraska’s western half, was present but didn’t vote. Four urban lawmakers cast the lone “no” votes Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and John Cavanaugh, George Dungan and Megan Hunt, all of Omaha.
Highlights of compromise
The Jacobson-mediated version of LB 1187 would reconstitute the five-member Nebraska Brand Committee into a seven-member panel, including representation for the first time from the 44 counties east of the “brand inspection line” in east central Nebraska.
One-third of the state’s 33,000 registered brands are held outside the brand area, said Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul. Because they pay registration fees for them, “they should have a little bit of representation on this board.”
This map shows the five Nebraska Brand Committee districts that would be created under a compromise version of Legislative Bill 1187 adopted Wednesday. District 5 (in blue) would represent 44 eastern Nebraska counties outside the state's brand inspection area, with the others divided equally by numbers of cattle in each. Each district would have to be represented by an active cattle raiser.
Five members, one from each of five districts, would be people “whose principal business or occupation is the raising of cattle.” One cattle feeder and one livestock auction owner or operators — both from inside the brand area — would round out the panel.
District 5 would make up all 44 counties outside the brand area, with the four districts inside it drawn up to equally divide the estimated 4 million head of cattle raised there. Ibach described it to senators Wednesday as “one cow, one vote.”
Gov. Jim Pillen would appoint the new members of the 85-year-old Brand Committee, subject to confirmation by the Legislature. The new panel would choose its executive director, whom the governor would have to approve under the now-current text of LB 1187.
Jacobson’s amendment dropped an Ag Committee proposal that cattle under “temporary care and custody” anywhere in the state wouldn’t need brand inspection if their owners had a Brand Committee form showing the number cattle cared for and their physical description, including brands.
It added language mandating either a brand inspection certificate or “satisfactory evidence of ownership” whenever cattle are sold. Either would have to be presented to the Brand Committee or its agents on demand.
LB 1187 still would double maximum brand renewal fees to $400 a year, raise caps on physical or electronic inspection fees from $1.10 to $1.50 per head, allow a surcharge of up to $30 per inspection location for inspectors’ travel expenses; and lower maximum annual fees for registered feedlots in the brand area to roughly 37.5 cents per head.
Finally, “dairy heifer development facilities” would be allowed exemptions from brand inspections in similar fashion as registered feedlots, including annual Brand Committee fees and requirements for periodic audits to track the ownership of their animals.
Except when wrongdoing is suspected, audits for feedlots in the brand area would be halved from four to two a year. Dairy heifer development facilities would be audited at least three times a year.
Years of conflict
The various segments of Nebraska’s livestock industry have long clashed over modernizing fees and inspection requirements under the state’s iconic system — traceable to the 1870s-1880s “open range” era — of using physical brands to prove ownership.
The Alliance-based Brand Committee maintains records of some 33,000 brands and inspects cattle sold or moved within the “brand inspection area” of 48 western and central counties and part of Knox County. The private Nebraska Stock Growers Association, an ancestor of today’s Nebraska Cattlemen, did those jobs from the 1890s until the state took over in 1941.
A “working group” under the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee met in North Platte in October 2020. It fell apart a month later as ranching, feedlot and dairy interests split, though senators made limited changes to Brand Committee fees and charges in 2021.
Ibach, Jacobson and Storer all joined the Legislature after that point. An Ibach-sponsored 2025 compromise (LB 646) stalled on final reading — with Ibach and Storer essentially on opposite sides — and a proposed Ag Committee settlement drew bitter opposition from ranchers at a special hearing March 19.
The Telegraph spoke with Ibach, Jacobson and Storer Wednesday afternoon about how the potential peace agreement over branding came about.
Jacobson got involved after the Ag Committee floated still another would-be solution late last week. The opposing sides had been slowly finding common ground since an interim Ag Committee hearing last fall in Kearney, Ibach said.
Jacobson, a Clay County farmer and founder of North Platte’s NebraskaLand Bank, agreed to help modify the committee plan “so it was palatable to his constituents and to other senators who may not have been engaged in the process previously,” she said.
After the Ag Committee released its own latest version of LB 1187 last week, Jacobson said, “I spent most of the weekend on the phone with both sides, particularly the feedyard people, to kind of understand what they’re willing to do” to settle the conflicts.
Feedlots in the brand area are “getting enough savings and reductions in the number of audits, but they aren’t going to be eliminated. That’s what I really had to negotiate with them … Do you want to go another year with higher fees and duplicate inspections like you’ve had before?”
Jacobson compared the 48 brand counties, plus western Knox County, to the “sterile area” inside an airport and Brand Committee inspectors to federal Transportation Security Agency workers.
“You can move (cattle) within the brand area without inspection, but if you move them out and bring them back in again, you’re going through TSA again. … We’ve done a number of things to help feedlot operators and we’re still protecting cow-calf producers.”
Jacobson, whose Lincoln County-based District 42 gained four southern Sandhills counties in 2022, said he talked with Ibach, Storer and Speaker John Arch over the weekend and early this week to hammer out a final deal.
Ibach and Storer “had very strong, opposing opinions,” he said. “I have to hand it to both of them for being willing to listen to compromise and to compromise.”
Storer said the advanced LB 1187 version satisfies her main goal of preventing inspection exemptions for cattle crossing the brand line. “That violates the integrity of the brand inspection area.”
But “I’ll be honest: This didn’t get hammered out until 5:30 last night,” she added. “There were still things in there that weren’t acceptable as late as 4:30 in the afternoon that had to come out.
“At the end of the day, I feel good that we accomplished what we set out to do. … We have made meaningful changes to reflect modernization in the (cattle) industry that should satisfy concerns. This should not need to be revisited for a while.”
