Continued investment, strong local leadership and the development of the next generation of Nebraskans will ensure that the state remains an agricultural powerhouse, Mike Johanns told the crowd during the Sept. 22 Heuermann Lecture at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center. The event was hosted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Johanns said it was no accident that President George W. Bush tapped him to become secretary of agriculture in 2005.
“I was the governor of a state that has everything in its favor when it comes to agriculture, from the grasslands of western Nebraska that we affectionately call the Sandhills, to the corn and soybean fields across the east and central part of our state — we are a powerhouse,” he said.
Johanns, who also served as Nebraska governor and as a U.S. senator, emphasized the importance of Nebraska’s innovations in commodities, including beef, corn, soybeans, pork and popcorn. Continued investment in agricultural education and innovation will not only benefit Nebraska’s economy, he said, but will help the state maintain its position as an agricultural leader in the United States.
Johanns highlighted the extent of Nebraska’s agricultural industry, including millions of acres of crops, ranches and dairy production. In addition to focusing on the state’s food sector — such as $8.3 million in corn production — he noted that Nebraska is second in ethanol production and that ag-related jobs have an estimated $97 billion economic impact on the state.
Johanns also discussed some of the challenges rural Nebraska communities are facing, including declines in population, the available workforce and the number of farm and ranch families.
“We see in Nebraska … the impact of fewer families in our rural communities,” he said. “That means fewer people shopping. That means fewer people needing the local hospital. And the hard part for all of us is to see fewer kids going to our schools.”
Johanns next focused on four key questions:
- How do we keep young people on the farm and on the ranch?
- How do we position Nebraska to continue to be a leader in agriculture, innovation and technology?
- How do we prioritize investment in agricultural education opportunities for Nebraska youth?
- How do we create other opportunities in rural communities so they continue to be economically strong and vibrant?
“I believe that these questions and how we answer them will define the future of this great state,” he said.
Johanns said effective local leadership and mentorship for younger generations are vital to helping Nebraska continue to prosper. He said when he visited community leaders as governor and saw they were on the same page, he felt hopeful for those communities. That collaborative spirit is integral to the state’s growth, he said.
Johanns said that no matter community leaders’ strengths, a key catalyst for change is investment in local resources on both the local and state levels, through direct economic support as well as educational support.
“I can’t overemphasize how important the university system, the state colleges, the community colleges are to our future,” he said. “I was a 14-year-old kid raising pigs with big dreams. I would become a first-generation college student who went on to get a law degree. That was my pathway. Those in education are really in the youth development business, and that always needs to be front and center.”
Johann’s address was followed by a panel discussion led by Tiffany Heng-Moss, Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR and NU vice president, featuring the keynote speaker; Mary Emery, director of Rural Prosperity Nebraska; Brad Lubben, associate professor of agricultural economics; L.J. McElravy, associate professor of agricultural leadership, education and communication; and Jordan Rasmussen, program leader for Rural Prosperity Nebraska.
Each expanded on the challenges facing rural Nebraska communities — from drought to housing to the economy — and shared how residents are overcoming those challenges.
“One of the key findings of the Rural Poll is that for the last 30 years that we have been asking rural Nebraskans about life in rural Nebraska, they have been optimistic about their future,” Emery said. “That optimism has fueled the energy to seek new opportunities, to renew the entrepreneurial spirit and to tackle some really big challenges like housing, childcare and the workforce.”
During the panel discussion, Johanns said it is important for the United States to “re-engage” constructively in international trade, especially with Canada and Mexico. If the U.S. fails to pursue major export opportunities, the key alternative should be an increased focus on bioeconomy options such as biofuels, he said.
Johanns stressed that what makes Nebraska such a powerhouse is that residents work together to tackle challenges.
“We have so much to offer our nation and world, but here in Nebraska, we can't leave any part behind,” he said. “As we continue to build agriculture in Nebraska, as a world-changing powerhouse, let us build it in all 93 counties. Let’s leave no part of our state behind.”
The Heuermann Lecture series focuses on providing sustainability in the areas of food, natural resources and renewable energy for people, as well as securing the sustainability of rural communities where the vital work of producing food and renewable energy occurs.
The series is made possible through a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips, Nebraska, as an enduring commitment to Nebraska's production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people.
