April 13, 2007

Edward J. Schrock, a farmer and former state senator of Elm Creek, will be named the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement's 119th honoree at its annual banquet April 21.

Edward J. Schrock

Schrock and his wife, Judith, their sons, Tom and Ted, and his two brothers are involved in the family farming operation. Most recently Schrock was elected to the Nebraska Public Power District's Board of Directors and will serve the 2007-2013 term.

The banquet honoring Schrock and the nine new members will begin with 5:15 social hour followed by a 6 p.m. buffet dinner at the Nebraska East Union on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus. The banquet costs $20 per person and is open to the public. The deadline for reservations is April 13. To make reservations or for more information, contact Linda Arnold at (402) 472-3802.

Schrock was appointed to the Nebraska Legislature in 1991 by then-Gov. Kay Orr to fill a vacancy, but lost the seat after redistricting caused dissolution of his district. In 1994, he decided to run for the new legislative district and won. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2002.Progress made on Nebraska water law can be credited to Schrock, a nominator wrote. In addition, he was among the strongest advocates for agriculture while never losing sight of other state interests, the nominator wrote.

Schrock is co-chair of the Nebraska Water Policy Task Force, member of the Water Resources Advisory Panel at UNL and a member of Agricultural Builders of Nebraska Inc.

In addition, he is active in the Nebraska Cattlemen's Association, Nebraska Soybean Growers Association, Nebraska Wheat Growers Association, South Central Irrigators Association and the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

He served as president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association from 1980-1982, on the Phelps County School Board-District R-4, on the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and is a member of the Holdrege and Superior Chambers of Commerce. In 2001, he received the American Coalition of Ethanol Award for promoting ethanol production in Nebraska and in 2002 the Nebraska Corn Board presented the 2002 Agricultural Achievement Award to Schrock for his leadership of corn producers and the industry.Schrock served in the Nebraska National Guard from 1966 to 1972 and earned a bachelor's degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1965.

The Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement, formed in 1916, has about 200 members statewide dedicated to preserving and improving Nebraska agriculture. Each year, the group recognizes at least one honoree and elects new members. This year's new members are:

C. G. "Kelly" Holthus of York, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Cornerstone Banks, is known as a strong, steady voice for Nebraska agriculture. He serves on numerous local, state and national boards, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Nebraska Community Foundation and the Concordia University Foundation. He also has served on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council (LEAD). His counsel often is sought by many at all levels of state government, a nominator wrote. In addition, he has served as president of the American Bankers Association and the Nebraska Bankers Association. He has been recognized and honored for many community and professional achievements.

Greg A. Ibach of Sumner has served as the director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture since June 2005, receiving the appointment from Gov. Dave Heineman after Ibach had spent six and a half years in the assistant director role. However, his work in and for Nebraska agriculture began in his youth on his family's farm near Sumner. He has spent most of his life farming there and with help of his family, he continues to maintain a cow/calf and grain operation. Prior to starting his Sumner operation, he worked for Farm Credit Services as a loan officer and later as an assistant vice president. He has been involved in successful trade missions to Europe, Asia and Cuba. He is a member of numerous ag organizations.

Michael B. Jacobson, a farmer and banker of North Platte is a lifelong resident of the state growing up on a grain and livestock farm in south central Nebraska. After graduating from UNL in 1976, he returned to farming and began a career as a vocational agriculture instructor. In 1980, he left teaching and held management positions in banking until 1998. In 1998, he provided leadership to charter the NebraskaLand National Bank at North Platte where he serves as chairman, president and CEO. In 2006, a second bank was chartered, Commerce Bank of Wyoming, N.A. in Rock Springs, Wyo., where he also serves as chairman and CEO. He is past president of the North Platte Public Schools Foundation Board and past president of the Great Plains Health Care Foundation Board, among others.Michael C. LePorte, of Elwood is farm director of KRVN radio in Lexington and the Nebraska Rural Radio Network. He started his career at Shenandoah, Iowa, and has held broadcast positions in Iowa, Kansas and now Nebraska. He also spent 10 years farming in Iowa -- all contributing to his depth of knowledge of production agriculture. During the 17 years LePorte has been at KRVN, it has been the top-rated ag station in the nation in its market. He has received a number of honors from various Nebraska ag groups, including the American Soybean Association, Nebraska Agribusiness Association, Nebraska Soybean Association and Ak-Sar-Ben. In addition, he has been a member of five foreign trade missions.

Barton D. Ruth, a farmer near Rising City is a UNL regents scholar who graduated in 1981. He began farming full-time upon graduation, residing on the original 1878 family homestead. He is active in many areas including the American Soybean Association Board of Directors, Nebraska Soybean Association Board of Directors, which he served as president, and the Nebraska Agricultural Legal Foundation. He also is active in a number of community and church efforts. He has traveled internationally several times in the interest of agriculture, including spending two months in Europe for the Eisenhower Fellowship for Agriculture, and testified before Congress.

Steven S. Waller, dean of UNL's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, joined the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1978 as associate professor of agronomy. He was promoted to professor before assuming a joint appointment as assistant dean for the Agricultural Research Division and associate dean of CASNR in 1993. In 2002, he became the CASNR dean. His leadership resulted in new undergraduate majors including professional golf management, small animal option, equine option and hospitality and tourism management. He also has implemented creative student recruitment initiatives and improved student advising. The UNL Parents Association has honored him five times for contributions to students.

Jerry A. Warner of Omaha grew up on a farm near Arapahoe, Neb. After graduating from UNL, he taught for several years before launching a career with Farmers National Company in Omaha in 1972. During the past 18 years, he has lived in Omaha where he has served as the executive vice president and chief management officer of Farmers National. His progressive policy for farm management, with an emphasis toward value-added crops, has proven to be a sound approach. He has been honored by UNL several times for his impact on helping urban youth understand the role of agriculture in their lives. He also serves on a variety of UNL-related boards and committees, including chair of the Eastern Nebraska Advisory Board for the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center.

Jeanene Wehrbein of Plattsmouth has been the executive director of the Plattsmouth Chamber of Commerce since 2003. She also served as editor of the Plattsmouth Journal from 1983-2003 and 17 years as woman's director at KOTD radio station. A founding member of the Nebraska Community Foundation Board, she works to promote local economic activism. A former 4-H Club leader for nearly 20 years, she has benefitted a number of youth organizations through her leadership and dedication. She has served on numerous home extension councils and 4-H Foundation boards. Wehrbein has received numerous awards, including the annual Nebraska Leadership Award for Community Involvement from the Nebraska Press Association and Nebraska Cattle Woman of the Year.

Roy Dinsdale of Palmer, chairman of Pinnacle Bankcorp Inc., has been a part of his family's farming and cattle feeding business all his life. The family's banking ventures began in small rural communities where they are characterized for their strong commitment and support of local and civic projects. For example, the Dinsdale family initiated a program that gives $400 to any armed forces reservist from Nebraska, Colorado or Wyoming who's serving abroad during the month of December. Dinsdale serves on several boards, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Omaha National Bank and First National Bank in Grand Island. He also is a member of the UNL President's Club, the Cornhusker Beef Council and chairman of various bank boards.

Sandi Alswager Karstens
IANR News