Nebraska corn farmer Brandon Hunnicutt recently was elected to the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board. Hunnicutt farms with his father and brother near Giltner. This election leads to a second term for Hunnicutt. He was first elected to the board in July 2017. Each term lasts three years.

In addition to serving on NCGA’s Corn Board, Hunnicutt serves corn farmers through the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and is the vice chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. He serves as the chairman of Field to Market, a national alliance designed to bring together stakeholders to define, measure and advance the sustainability of food, feed, fiber and fuel production in the U.S. This is the first time a farmer has been at the helm of this national Field to Market organization.

Hunnicutt’s second term will begin Oct. 1. The election took place July 15 during the 2020 virtual Corn Congress.

NPPA announces 2020 Pork Mentorship Program participants

The Nebraska Pork Producers Association is proud to welcome participants of the 2020 Pork Mentorship Program. This year, six college-age students will participate in the program:

Alexa Kaiser of Eagle Point, Ore., is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying agricultural and environmental communications and agriculture economics.

Hunter Rathjen of North Platte is a freshman at the University of Nebraska–Kearney studying accounting and public law.

Jacob Vallery of Plattsmouth is a junior at UNL studying agronomy.

Lindsay Peters of Scribner is a junior at UNL studying animal science with an option in food and animal production management.

Tristin Smith of Curtis is a freshman at UNL studying animal science.

Will Sonderman of Columbus is a junior at UNL studying agribusiness with a livestock production option/animal science, Beef Industry Scholars.

Each year, participants in the Pork Mentorship Program participate in activities that encourage personal growth and career readiness, and develop leadership skills while expanding knowledge of the pork industry. Participants receive a $500 scholarship upon the successful completion of requirements throughout the yearlong program.

Nebraska wildlife biologist nationally recognized

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that Nebraska state wildlife biologist Ritch Nelson was runner-up for the nationwide NRCS State Biologist of the Year Award.

Nelson, who is from Albion, has a long history of working to conserve and manage wildlife. Nelson has been the state wildlife biologist for Nebraska NRCS since 2003. Before that, he held positions with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. 

Nelson is working to share his many years of experience. He has mentored 63 biologists since Nebraska’s Farm Bill and Coordinating Wildlife partnership began in 2004, affecting more than 5 million acres.

He was instrumental in developing an initiative to enhance habitat conditions for the American burying beetle and to benefit a variety of grassland birds with declining population trends. In two years, 28 projects have positively affected more than 30,000 acres.

CVA's McCarthy appointed to EPA committee

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler recently announced the appointment of 33 members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee. Established in 2008, FRRCC provides independent policy advice, information and recommendations to the EPA administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities.

Among the 33 new members of FRRCC is Nicholas McCarthy, senior vice president of agronomy at Central Valley Ag, headquartered in York, Neb.