Rod Christen is the third generation of his family to ranch and farm on their place near Steinauer, NE. He and his family run cow-calf pairs and feeders, finish cattle for direct marketing, and raise their own seedstock through artificial insemination. The Christens own and rent pasture and farmground and have a rotational grazing system that includes winter grazing. They also raise corn, beans and wheat on rotation.
Rod has been involved with NGLC since 2005, and is also active in the Southeast Nebraska Grassland Association; Southeast Nebraska Cattlemen, where he served as past President; and the Nebraska Cattlemen, including being "Pit Boss" at Beef Pit at State Fair and serving as one of three NE Cattlemen representatives on the NE Land Trust Board.
Rod has been married to his wife, Amy, for 14 years. They have two daughters, Dana, 7, and Leah, 3, and a son, Evan, 5 months old. Rod said he feels NGLC is especially important to protect our rare tall grass prairie resource as well as other grasslands. "I feel the best way to manage conservation and sustainability is through grasslands; which is being threatened more and more by mismanagement and row crops. I choose to be involved because I feel it is a responsibility as a land owner and farmer/rancher to help protect this way of life and sustainable resource for future generations."