Mitch Stephenson grew up in the Nebraska Sandhills and central Wyoming. He received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from BYU-Idaho and a M.S. degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Range Science where he evaluated the effect of rotational grazing methods and time of grazing on livestock performance and vegetation characteristics in the eastern Nebraska Sandhills.
Following his time at UNL, Mitch worked as a rangeland ecologist in Wyoming and Nevada where he assisted livestock producers in developing sustainable grazing management plans and range vegetation monitoring reports. He completed his Ph.D. in Range Science in December 2014 from New Mexico State University where his research focused on targeting cattle grazing with low-stress herding and low-moisture block protein supplement and evaluating factors that affect cattle grazing distribution behavior, grazing site selection, and social association patterns..
Following his Ph.D., Mitch worked with the University of Nevada -Reno as a Post-doctoral researcher evaluating the use of livestock grazing as a tool to reduce invasive annual grass biomass on a landscape scale. Mitch is currently a Range and Forage Extension Specialist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln based out of the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, NE.
Erin Laborie is a beef systems focused Extension Educator for southwest Nebraska. Erin majored in Animal Science and received her Bachelor’s degree in nutrition from The Ohio State University. She attended South Dakota State University for her Master’s degree in Animal Science with an emphasis on growing and finishing cattle nutrition.
Erin currently lives in Beaver City with her husband, John Robert, and twin daughters, Evalynn and Alexandra.
Beef Systems focused educator with an emphasis on cow-calf management within beef production systems. My most significant accomplishments have been establishing the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, a comprehensive ranch management program graduating over 600 participants and teaching science to youth through the Husker Beef Lab I have also served on several state and regional committees.
Tyrell Anderson grew up mostly in northern Montana on the Double T ranch raising Stabilizer seedstock cattle as cooperators with Leachman Cattle Co. After finishing his Bachelor’s degree, he worked as an assistant ranch manager on the RO Cattle Ranch in Smokey Valley Nevada and then as the Farm manager at the Roaring Springs Ranch in Frenchglen Oregon. In 2013, he was accepted into the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, Master program in Kingsville Texas. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Ranch Management in May 2015 and now manages the Blue Creek Ranch near Oshkosh, NE for Turner Enterprises Incorporated.
Leah Peterson is a fifth generation Nebraska rancher, and is a member of Cooksley’s Clear Creek Farms, a diversified operation in Northeast Custer County.
Leah is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Bellevue University where she received degrees in Communications and Advanced Leadership Studies. Since that time, she has worked primarily in higher education, and for the USDA in Custer County. She is a passionate advocate for Nebraska Agriculture and dedicated to advancing efforts to ever improve conservation practices, land stewardship, and care for Nebraska’s farming and ranching communities
Angela Redman coordinates the NGLC generational transition program which provides educational opportunities for families on transitioning operations to the next generation. Angela also assists the Director with logistics for workshops, events and tours held across Nebraska. She maintains the social media and website for NGLC. She has a BA from Chadron State College, and previously worked in public health where she coordinated with local and state organizations in planning for public health emergencies. Angela and her family live in the Sandhills of Nebraska where they have a cow calf and yearling operation.
Michele is excited to be part of the NGLC team. In her role as Office Manager, Michele will be working on communications and social media and supporting marketing and event planning efforts.
Michele's career began as a travel agent before she transitioned to an IT department within the travel industry, where she wrote training materials and produced help videos. During a break from the corporate world to start a family, Michele ventured into the art world, establishing her own business. She continues to exhibit her work in a local gallery and various local venues. Additionally, Michele teaches jewelry and wirework classes at Metro Community College and at other events. She manages a couple of mid-sized art shows annually. Michele is also on the board of an arts in medicine non-profit that works with Children’s Hospital in Omaha to help children with chronic illness chronicle their medical journey through art.
Residing in Omaha, Michele enjoys life with her husband, twin boys, and their beloved cavapoo, Birdie.
Twila is the Executive Secretary of the Sandhills Resource Conservation and Development office in Mullen, and also serves as the Grants Financial Manager for the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition. She has done the bookkeeping and financial management for the NGLC since the spring of 2008.
Twila and her husband own and operate the ranch that was purchased by his grandfather in the 1930s in north central Nebraska. She is also involved with the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association, Nebraska Cattlewomen, Nebraska Wine & Grape Growers Association and the Sandhills Cattle Association.
Twila and her husband have six children — two are married, one is in graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, one is in college at Hastings College and two are still at home.
Twila says, "NGLC is important because the organization strives to promote a greater understanding of the value of grasslands through tried and proven grazing practices as well as innovative strategies that promote healthy grasslands."
Alex serves as a regional Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition(NGLC) Burn Coordinator serving primary the eastern Sandhills region surrounding Burwell, Nebraska. In this role, he facilitates prescribed fire burn trainings, assists in organizing new regional burn associations, writes burn plans, coordinates actual burns and conducts post-burn tours. He also represents NGLC at various regional and state-wide burn events.
Doug Whisenhunt, NGLC Burn Coordinator has been employed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Nebraska for his entire career. He is credited with initiating the application of using prescribed fire for Eastern Red Cedar (ERC) control in Nebraska over 30 years ago. He is nationally renowned for his experience and knowledge of how to most effectively utilize prescribed fire in the diverse ecosystems across Nebraska and surrounding states. As such, Doug serves as the statewide burn coordinator in Nebraska. He is credited with the establishment of the Loess Canyon Resource Alliance (LCRA) located southwest of North Platte which involves over 70 private land owners working collaboratively to control ERC. Doug represents the NGLC at various prescribed fire events across Nebraska. He was instrumental in launching the Nebraska Prescribed Fire Conference a few years ago. He is a highly sought after speaker about the use of prescribed across the central and western High Plains.
Doug coordinates, supervises and manages the on-going state-wide prescribed fire activities to control invasive Eastern Red Cedar (ERC) in infested regions across Nebraska.
After earning a bachelor's and master's degrees in range livestock management, Jack spent 8 years as a Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Educator providing educational opportunities and resources addressing livestock producer needs. Throughout his career, Jack has gained hands-on experience in various roles on several ranching operations.
Jack lives outside of Chadron, Nebraska with his wife and 5 children.
Laura has been an agriculture journalist, farm and ranch photographer, strategic communications consultant, and special project manager for organizations like the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Montana Stockgrowers’ Environmental Stewardship Award Program, and various agricultural trade publications. She is the author and photographer of the book LEGACIES, which studied agricultural leadership and the landmark events of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation’s first one hundred years.She is is thrilled to be back in her home state of Nebraska after more than a decade of living and working in Montana. She grew up on a diverse farm and ranch in Kimball County and now resides in Bassett, Nebraska.
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