www.nefb.org DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 | VOL. 38 | ISSUE 6 FARM BUREAU NEWS 3 Celebrating Membership VIRTUAL 4 YF&R Discuss EYES ON 7 2021 Legislative ENGAGING Session CONVENTION 9 Changing DONORS PAGE 5 INSIDE Political Climate PAGES 10-11 Mark McHargue of Central City elected to lead Nebraska Farm Bureau ark McHargue of Central City has been elected 2011, McHargue served as the First Vice President of the Sherry Vinton, an Arthur County Farm Bureau mem- to serve as President of the state’s largest farm Nebraska Farm Bureau, chairing both the NEFB-PAC and ber, was elected to replace McHargue as the organi- Mand ranch organization. Delegates to the Dec. 8 the State Legislative Policy Committees. zation’s First Vice President. Vinton and her husband, Nebraska Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Convention “It’s extremely important Nebraska Farm Bureau Chris, operate a cow-calf operation near Whitman. selected McHargue to succeed Steve Nelson of Axtell, works to foster an environment that creates opportuni- Martey Stewart, a Dixon County Farm Bureau mem- who retired after serving nine years as president. ties for our members and our communities to be success- ber, was re-elected to represent the Northeast Re- “It is a great honor and I’m extremely excited to have ful. That starts with relationships. I’ll be placing a high gion on the Board of Directors. Stewart will represent this opportunity to work on behalf of our state’s farm priority on meeting with key stakeholders from across members from Antelope, Burt, Cedar, Cuming, Dakota, and ranch families. Steve Nelson brought tremendous the state to reinforce the value of the work being done by Dixon, Madison, Pierce, Stanton, Thurston and Wayne leadership to Nebraska Farm Bureau and I thank him for our state’s farmers and ranchers, sharing our organiza- counties. Stewart and his wife, Linda, operate a cow- his service,” McHargue said. “My highest priority is to tion’s policy positions and finding areas we can work to- calf operation near Dixon. ensure we continue to carry out our organization’s mis- gether to advance and grow Nebraska,” said McHargue. Casey Schuhmacher, a Dawes County Farm Bureau sion and vision, a mission that centers around enriching Among other priorities, McHargue pointed to a strong Member, was elected to represent the Northwest Region the lives of Nebraska farm and ranch families through desire to find ways to increase direct engagement and on the Board of Directors. Schuhmacher will represent meaningful advocacy, education and leadership devel- communication with farmers and ranchers to hear their members from Arthur, Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, opment, and a vision of helping farm and ranch families thoughts and ideas, in addition to continuing Farm Bu- Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Keith, Kimball, Scotts Bluff, achieve a great quality of life and prosperity.” reau’s focus on finding ways to help young farmers and Sheridan and Sioux counties. Schuhmacher and his wife, McHargue is a fourth-generation farmer, producing ranchers, and the next generation of farm and ranch Tara, operate a cow-calf operation and raise stockers fat pork, corn, popcorn and soybeans in Merrick County. He leaders. cattle near Chadron. has served in numerous capacities with Farm Bureau over McHargue and his wife, Judi, have four adult chil- Jason Perdue, a York County Farm Bureau member, the years. His involvement includes service on the Mer- dren and six grandchildren, with another grandchild was elected to fill the At-Large position on the Nebraska rick County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the Young on the way. Farm Bureau Board. Perdue works for a family-owned Farmers and Ranchers Committee, the State Legislative In addition to electing a new President, delegates also Ag Retail company, and he and his wife, Karah, operate Policy Committee and the State Board of Directors. Since elected others to lead the organization. the family’s contract poultry operation near York. Mark McHargue Sherry Vinton Martey Stewart Casey Schuhmacher Jason Perdue NEFB President First Vice President Northeast Region Board Member Northwest Region Board Member At-Large - York County 2 OPINIONS NEBRASKA FARM BUREAU NEWS DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 Serving farmers and ranchers remains the focus of our mission ear Farm Bureau Members, leadership to the organization, and It is truly an honor to serve you as President I want to thank him for his service Dof the Nebraska Farm Bureau. Having been and dedication to our wonderful actively involved in the organization for more than organization and its members. 30 years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of I’ve been asked what I hope to you, but for those I’ve yet to cross paths with, let me achieve in this role. My highest introduce myself. priority is to ensure we My name is Mark McHargue. I’m continue to carry out the a fourth-generation farmer from mission and vision for our Central City in Merrick County. I’ve organization, a mission that farmed with my brother Paul for centers on enriching the lives more than 30 years, and we produce of Nebraska farm and ranch pork, corn, popcorn and soybeans. families through meaningful My wife, Judi, and I have been advocacy, education and blessed with four adult children: leadership development, and our son Andrew and his wife, a vision of helping farm and Emily; our son Jordan and his wife, Mark McHargue ranch families achieve a great Janae; our daughter Rachel and her PRESIDENT, quality of life and prosperity. husband, Danny; and our youngest NEBRASKA There are many in ways in daughter, Charis, who has been FARM BUREAU which we can work toward diagnosed with Angelman syndrome those ends. One way is by The McHargue Family and lives with us. We are proud grandparents to six fostering an environment that grandchildren with another grandchild on the way. creates opportunities for our members and our Lastly, I believe it is important that we continue to I’ve served in numerous capacities with Farm Bureau communities to be successful. I plan to put a high focus on finding ways to help the next generation of over the years, including on the Merrick County Farm priority on maximizing Nebraska Farm Bureau’s farmers and ranchers. I’m very interested in building Bureau Board of Directors, the Young Farmers and influence through fostering relationships with key a mentoring relationship with our Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, the State Legislative Policy stakeholders from across the state. By building Ranchers Committee as they are our organization’s Committee and the State Board of Directors. Since 2011, relationships, we can reinforce the value of the future leaders. I’ve served as the First Vice President of the Nebraska work being done by our farm and ranch members, These are just a few areas where I plan to invest Farm Bureau where I was chairman of the Nebraska inform influencers of our policies, and find ways my time, but, as we all know, Farm Bureau’s strength Farm Bureau – PAC and the State Legislative Policy to work together to advance and grow Nebraska. lies in our collective efforts. I’m honored to serve and Committees. And now, I’m extremely excited about the I also have a strong desire to work toward a look forward to working with you to enrich the lives of opportunity to work on your behalf as President. greater level of information sharing and gathering Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. Judi and I have a passion for Farm Bureau and a feedback from members. Those who know me Until next time, great appreciation for the members it serves. We are are familiar with the fact that I’m always up for thankful for the support and encouragement we’ve a good discussion and interested in hearing the received as we move into this new role. thoughts and ideas of our members. My door is I’m fortunate to have worked closely with retired always open. The better connected we are as an president Steve Nelson. Steve brought tremendous organization, the better we can serve you. Mark McHargue, President Coalition asks lawmakers to intervene in FCC ruling arm Bureau and dozens of other cision agriculture technology and GPS aviation operations, precision farm- portation Committee. organizations representing a broad so their farms and ranches can be more ing and irrigation management that The groups are asking the lawmak- Frange of industries is calling on efficient, economical and environmen- have revolutionized the agriculture ers to work with the FCC to set aside the lawmakers to help protect the satellite tally responsible. economy, autonomous ground and air flawed Ligado order in favor of a pro- communications and GPS services that It would also put at risk GPS services vehicles that will bring a new genera- cess that is responsive to the concerns tens of millions of Americans rely on. used by the military and other national tion of transportation, precise and ac- of the incredibly broad cross-section of This spring, the Federal Communi- defense agencies, aviation safety agencies, tionable weather data that can predict L-band operators and users. cations Commission granted a petition mapping applications and many others. hurricanes and other life-threatening The 60-plus organizations that filed by Ligado to provide 5G services. “The proposed Ligado network natural events, and many other ap- signed the letter represent the aviation, Ligado’s planned use of its spectrum is would disrupt the reliability of satel- plications,” the groups said in a letter aerospace, agriculture, GPS, ground so near bands used by GPS, it could di- lite communications services and the to Sens.