Lincoln, Neb. —The University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) is pleased to announce that Jacob Harvey has been named Research Project Coordinator for the Barta Brothers Ranch located south of Long Pine. Harvey began this new role on January 3, 2023.
He will oversee research projects at the ranch and guide the facility as a research hub for interests in range and wildlife in the region. ENREEC Director Doug Zalesky says, “We are excited to have Jacob in this position at the Barta Brothers Ranch facility. He will provide some important guidance and daily oversight for the ranch and will work closely with faculty, students and technicians conducting research projects at this facility. Additionally Jacob will engage stakeholders in that part of the Sandhills on a routine basis which is critical to our mission for the Barta Brothers Ranch.”
Harvey earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in Fisheries and Wildlife and a master’s degree from Texas Tech University in Wildlife, Aquatics, and Wildlands Science and Management.
While attending school at the University of Nebraska, Harvey worked with the Conservation and Survey Division, the Chizinski Human Dimensions Lab, and served as a student prairie manager for Nine Mile Prairie. He was also a graduate research assistant at Texas Tech within the Department of Natural Resource Management and spent some time as interim fleet and range barn coordinator for the department.
Harvey says, “I have a great interest in furthering range and wildlife research and I believe that the University of Nebraska is sitting in a prime place in the Sandhills to do just that. My time with UNL and Texas Tech was filled with great mentors who helped me along in my research interests. I hope I can pay it forward to upcoming students and stakeholders who visit this site.”
Harvey is happy to be back in Nebraska as he and his wife, Sydnie are both originally from Holdrege. And Harvey is acquainted with the Sandhills region, he adds, “I spent time in the Sandhills during my time with the Conservation Survey Division as well as during the summer working at Nine Mile Prairie.”
He is looking forward to spending time outdoors and as a past high school and college athlete, possibly looking into assisting with community athletic programs.
The Barta Brothers Ranch is located in the northeastern Sandhills and is under the direction of the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center. The ranch is comprised of 3,428 acres on the Brown and Rock County line where the headquarters is located and 1,728 acres and 5 miles west of the headquarters. The focus of research and education programs is grazing management, range management and ecology, and range livestock production since the initiation of programs in 1999.