CHANGING THE GAME Keynote speaker Jordy Nelson addressed attendees at the 137th Angus Annual Meeting.

by Megan Silveira, assistant editor

Some things have stayed the same First and agriculture on the field, Nelson chose to attend — the stretch of green laid out before Nelson’s career in the National Kansas State University (K-State). him, the work needed behind the Football League (NFL) might have In addition to having grown up a scenes, the excitement of success, the made him a household name, Wildcat fan, Nelson said he knew passion within. particularly on Sunday nights, attending this college would serve as Other elements of the game have but the 35-year-old said it was a the best opportunity for him to excel changed. The fans in the crowd are childhood spent on his family’s farm in the future. much quieter, the daily uniform has that led him to succeed on the field. In 2003, Nelson walked onto the been altered and the game strategy “It’s how I made a living, how my K-State team as a safety. Despite his has shifted. family made a living,” the keynote love and dedication for the game, While the rest of the world might speaker said of the farming and Nelson did not see any actual time on know him as a former Green Bay ranching operation started in Riley the field until his third year. Packers player and Super Bowl County, Kan., by his grandfather. “It’s He recalls being called into his champion, Jordy Nelson told the 137th all I knew.” coach’s office and being asked to Angus Annual Meeting attendees Angus cattle were not a part of the switch from safety to receiver. With in Kansas City, Mo., he more often original farm plans, however. Nelson the same success-driven mindset labels himself as a farmer and said his grandfather began with a he had cultured growing up in the rancher than a professional athlete. focus on crops before bringing home agriculture industry, Nelson said he a few Angus heifers as a hobby. That took the chance to elevate his game. hobby quickly grew into a “The switch was the break I herd of 100 cows. needed,” he said. “It was what “Now, it’s not so much allowed me to become the player I of a hobby, and more of a always wanted to be.” daily grind and a lifestyle,” The break did not come easy. Nelson explained. Nelson said he had to drastically Nelson said his time change the way he prepared for on the farm interacting games. The time and effort he with the livestock is a dedicated towards training himself key part of what helped to be a receiver were well worth the prepare him for a future effort, as Nelson was an All-American as an NFL player. He said his senior year. the dedication and work After college Nelson was drafted ethic required on the farm to the Green Bay Packers team were mirrored in what in 2008. Though a professional was expected of him as a athlete, Nelson once again found football player. himself spending his first two years After a high on the sidelines. Instead of being “The agriculture industry school career spent discouraged by this, Nelson said he elevated me as an athlete balancing work at took it as an opportunity to grow by and a person.” — Jordy Nelson home with time watching others.

130 Angus Journal January 2021 “Another way to become a better What you think controls a lot of Drafting the next generation player and raise the level of success what you do.” Nowadays, one can find Nelson in I wanted to have was to sit back and In the offseason, Nelson said this a field of crops rather than the green watch,” he explains. “I think you can mindset did not disappear. In fact, turf of a football field. He spent 10 learn things from other people.” he dedicated some of his time away seasons with the Packers and one Nelson believes this applies in all from the team to helping share with the Oakland Raiders before industries, and the lesson was one he the story of agriculture with his retiring and coming home to the saw first in the agriculture industry. teammates. family operation in Kansas. As farmers and ranchers, he and his The easiest way to help them Nelson works for his father and family were always looking for ways understand? Firsthand experience, of brother, helping with the soybeans, to become better, and he brought course, Nelson said. corn and cattle. that attitude to the field. Some of Nelson’s favorite “Somehow I think I work more memories with his fellow athletes hours now at home than I ever did Touchdowns on all fields occurred when he took them home playing football,” he joked. The hours Nelson’s patience, persistence and to Kansas. There the men were able may be long, and the work may be practice paid off during his third year to experience all sides of production difficult, but Nelson said he wouldn’t in the NFL. After another player was agriculture, including the artificial trade it for anything. injured, the opportunity arose for insemination (AI) of cattle, Nelson Nelson said this work is what he Nelson to see more time on the field. said with a laugh. loves. It’s the industry that set him He describes his time playing as “They realized it was a different up for success, teaching him about exciting and challenging, saying there lifestyle, but it taught them about the the importance of working for your was never a day he was not learning peace and quiet and true enjoyment dreams, taking responsibility for all something, whether it be a new route of the industry,” he added. your actions and always having pride or new skill. It was shared moments and in the work you do. Overall, Nelson said he worked experiences like this that helped the Like in the NFL, Nelson said he has to approach each day with the same team come together to find success to think about the big picture every goal: improvement. on all fields. Nelson might treasure day. The plays he makes today are no “You’re going to make mistakes — these memories, but he said one of longer an attempt for a touchdown, no one lives a perfect life,” Nelson the biggest highlights of his career but rather to help benefit a team said. “It’s up to you to make sure that was his Super Bowl win. built around his family members and you’re trying to not make the same Years of practice and dedication to the cattle herd they own. mistake twice. I believe our minds are the sport came to a peak in the 2010 “The agriculture industry elevated a powerful muscle. season, when Nelson and me as an athlete and a person,” he the Packers won said. The lessons of his youth are Super Bowl so valuable to Nelson that he said XLV. he has every intention of bringing up his own children in the same environment. “It’s what I love to do,” he said of the agriculture industry. “I’m proud to be a farmer, and I look forward to raising my family that way.”

Editor’s note: Jordy Nelson’s keynote presentation was sponsored by Neogen.

January 2021 Angus Journal 131