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Nebraska Digest: Tom Burkey named to CASNR role; producers appointed to National Pork Board, NPPC.

February 20, 2020

3 Min Read
cloesup of dairy cows at feeder
INDUSTRY ADVOCATES: Midwest Dairy recently chose six students to be dairy ambassadors for the state of Nebraska. Tyler Harris

Midwest Dairy recently announced that six students were selected this year to be dairy ambassadors for the state of Nebraska. Ambassadors were selected to improve leadership and communication skills while advocating for the dairy industry.

Throughout the yearlong program, dairy ambassadors will engage in conversations with consumers, school-age children, and their peers. Many conversations involve learning more about the dairy industry and practices used within the industry.

While serving as an ambassador, students can network with dairy industry partners, visit dairy farms and tour agribusinesses in Nebraska. Recipients are students who have an interest in dairy production and attend a college in Nebraska.

This year's ambassadors include Abigail Langdon of Clarkson, an agriculture business and financing major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Lindsey Marotz of Hoskins, an elementary education major at UNL; Morgan Marotz of Wahoo, an elementary education major with minors in coaching and special education at Wayne State College; Jaycie Meggison of Blair, an agriculture business and financing major at UNL; Erin Muntz of Louisville, an animal science major at UNL; and Daniel Serdar of Woodstock, Ill., an animal science major at UNL.

Burkey named CASNR interim associate dean 

Tom Burkey, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of animal science, has joined the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources as interim associate dean for graduate education and partnership engagement.

In this half-time role, Burkey will provide leadership for graduate education within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL.

He also will work to foster both internal and external partnerships to advance IANR's graduate education framework; facilitate professional development opportunities for graduate students; and serve as CASNR's liaison to the Office of Graduate Studies, IANR academic units and other academic colleges.

Nebraska producers appointed to National Pork Board, NPPC

Bill Luckey of Columbus, Neb., recently was appointed by USDA to the National Pork Board as a new member. He will serve a three-year term. Luckey owns a wean-to-finish operation in Columbus, where he also holds partial ownership of a sow farm. He also raises corn, soybeans and cattle.

Luckey serves on the board of directors for the Swine Health Information Center. He has been active on numerous National Pork Board committees and serves as chairman of the International Marketing Committee.

Luckey has served on the National Pork Producers Council board of directors, on the Nebraska Pork Producers Association board of directors, and as NPPA president.

Russ Vering of Scribner, Neb., has been elected to the National Pork Producers Council. Vering is the owner of Central Plains Milling in Howells and Columbus and is involved with contract wean-to-finish sites in several surrounding counties in eastern Nebraska.

He also serves as campaign co-chairman for Nexus, a Northeast Community College campaign to raise funds for the Agriculture & Water Center of Excellence.

Vering has served on the Nebraska Pork Producers Council board of directors, and as NPPA president. During his years on the NPPA board, Vering represented Nebraska’s pork producers at numerous local, state and national meetings, and he traveled abroad on several trade missions.

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