Board of Directors

Tim Kalkowski is a Vice President and Agricultural Loan Officer of the First State Bank of Hickman. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking-Finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after attending Rock County High School in Bassett, his childhood home. He helps manage the family ranch in Boyd County, Nebraska.

He is a member of Nebraska Cattlemen and has served as co-president of the Seward / Lancaster Affiliate of the Nebraska Cattleman's Association. He has also served on the Nebraska Real Property Appraiser Board. He is involved in church youth programs and as a youth baseball coach. He is married and has a 14-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter.

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.

Dale Anderson is a fourth generation rancher, in the rolling Pine Ridge area of northwest Nebraska, on land homesteaded by his great-grandfather in the 1880’s. Their current operation is based on Angus cattle & dryland hay production.  Recent conservation practices include cross-fencing, well and pipeline development, planting shelterbelts, dam reclamation, timber management, and related range improvement practices.
 
Dale is a member of the Masonic fraternity, American Legion, outdoor organizations, Farm Bureau, and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Chadron, NE.  He currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Dawes County Rural Fire Board.
 
Dale married Pamela Bowen, in 1972, after graduating from college with a BS in Earth Science and History.  After a summer at the Hudson-Meng archeological site, he entered the Army, serving in Germany from 1973 to 1975. Dale and Pam then returned to join his parents on the home place.
 
They have three married daughters and six grandchildren. They are pleased that a daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren are part of the family operation.

Dale is convinced that work, management, support from spouse and family, innovation and adaptability are keys to sustaining a business. The Grazing Land Coalition gives producers a platform for both innovation and adaptability.

Ben Bailey was born in south central Idaho and moved to Nebraska with his wife Shelly in 1993.  They began working for Rex Ranch learning Holistic Management and sound grazing principles under Burke Teichert’s guidance.  He has attended several Holistic Management schools along with Ranching For Profit and Bud Williams Livestock Handling classes.

Ben is currently a foreman on the Pawlet unit and in charge of outside grazing and bred cow marketing.   He has been involved with the Nebraska Cattleman as well as the Sandhills Task Force for several years. 

Ben firmly believes that proper stock handling and grazing go hand in hand to enhance and improve the quality of both, cattle and soil.

Ben and his wife have three children Brandi, Shanna, Monte.

Meredith Bremer  works for JKS Farms North of Kearney.  She was originally from a 250 head cow/calf, 2000 head feedlot, and row-crop farming operation near St. Edward, NE.  Meredith attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition.

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."

Marlin grew up on a dairy farm in central Minnesota, where his parents raised corn, soybeans and small grain. Pursuing an interest in agriculture, Marlin received an Associate’s Degree in Ag Business from Willmar Vo-Tech in 1984. He then went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Natural Resources from Brainerd Area VO-Tech in 1986.

Marlin has worked for a variety of agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife, across the northern Great Plains and Intermountain West.

After graduating from the University of Idaho in 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Management, Marlin began working seasonally at Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge in western Nebraska. He has been the permanent refuge biologist there since 1999.

Over the past two decades, Marlin’s efforts have centered on grassland management and utilizing grazing programs as a means of managing wildlife habitat.

Harlow Hill, a native of Alliance, NE, was the typical "city kid" until middle school when he started working on the John Frieberger Ranch. He worked there as much time as possible until joining the U.S. Marine Corp. in 1967. Harlow received an honorable discharge in 1968 and attended the University of Nebraska School of Technical Agriculture at Curtis graduating with a degree in Agricultural Production in 1971. He spent a short time working at the University of Nebraska Scotts Bluff Experiment Station then returned to work on the Frieberger Ranch.

In September 1978 Harlow was hired by Maddux Cattle Co. in Wauneta, NE. and has been a leader in their grazing management systems since it was instituted 32 years ago. Through the years he has done appraisals on their grass utilization and has been a local leader in getting neighbors to establish grazing management systems. Harlow also has shared his knowledge by serving on panels and making presentations at a number of grazing management meetings. He has brought many changes to the Maddux grazing system and subscribes to the belief that grazing management is a dynamic program that requires constant updating and change. Harlow and his wife Barb have three children and three grandchildren.

Vaugh Hinrichs and his wife Vicki and have been involved in farming and ranching in Thayer county, NE all of their lives except while Vaugh served in the US Army.  They have four children who have grown up having midwestern values.  They also have 5 grandchildren.

Vaugh and Vicki are also members of the Thayer County Livestock Feeders which happens to be the largest feeders group in Nebraska and also a member of the National Cattlemen Beef Association.  Vaugh has always practiced low stress cattle handling and has been instrumental in bringing Curt Pate to numerous grazing educational events across Nebraska.  Vaugh believes that a close connection exists between how cattle are handled and how grasslands and water resources are managed. One of Vaughn’s greatest joys is riding horseback through effectively managed grasslands checking cattle.

Vaughn’s goal is to leave the grazing lands in better condition for future generations through common sense management of the grass and water resources.

Sheila Luoma and her Husband Kris operate a cow calf operation in Greeley and Wheeler counties. Their operations main focus is on raising high quality replacement cattle that are adapted to their environment. Sheila worked for the Natural Resource Conservation Service as a range and resource conservationist for 32 years. Sheila is a member of the Society for Range Management. Sheila believes in range management and the importance in public awareness of livestock in protecting this natural resource.

Kahla Mathewson is the wife of the late Beau Mathewson who served as an NGLC board member for several years. 

During the 8 /12 years that they were married, Kahla learned as much as she could about grasslands and the proper use of them. 

Kahla grew up on a farm in central Nebraska and now lives on Beau's family ranch near Potter, NE.  There is no other place in Nebraska that Kahla wants to live.  Kayaking, fishing, biking and hiking are some of the hobbies she enjoys.

Wayne has been involved in the livestock industry all his life. He brings a little different perspective to the Nebraska Grazing Land coalition. Wayne comes from a part of the state that has both an abundance of row crop farming, and yet there is great potential in grass production. He has a strong desire to steward the land and the livestock that he is the primary care giver of.

Wayne has attended short courses at the University of Nebraska and is a graduate of the Nebraska LEAD program. He has graduated from: Ranching for Profit, livestock handling schools, and holistic management training. He has attended many seminars to continue his education and further his understanding of the land and the livestock that graze our prairies. He is currently the founder of the Grassfed Exchange which is now in its 3rd year of promoting, educating, developing strategies, and improving genetics for his fellow producer.

Wayne firmly believes there is tremendous untapped potential in the grasslands of Nebraska. Wayne has stated " The resources of grass, water, and sunlight are waiting for us to release their full potential into a further processed product of higher economic value. That, at the same time, is healing our land and conserving our other natural resources."

Ryan Sexson and his wife Jamie lease a small ranch south of Nenzel, Nebraska.  They own a portion of the cow herd and take in cows on shares.  They also custom calve some heifers and cows.  Ryan worked at the Gudmendsen Sandhills Lab near Whitman, NE for three years.  He attended a Holistic Resource Management course while working for the Rex Ranch as well as a Bud Williams stockmanship class along with several other educational seminars and classes.  He has also been through the Ranching for Profit class.  

Ryan and Jamie are using what they have learned to build a successful ranching operation that they hope to pass on to their 3 children, Rylie, James and Addie.  Ryan and Jamie were born and raised in the Sandhills and have a passion for ranching.  Both of them have been told numerous times that there is no future in ranching, however, they have found that statement anything but true.  Legacy is important to both of them, and they have concentrated on building relationships and gaining knowledge in order to develop a sustainable business to pass to their children if they desire to follow in their parents’ footsteps.  Ryan hopes to have some knowledge and ideas that can help others, particularly those that have a desire to start their own operation.  

Ryan and Jamie concentrate heavily on a “holistic” approach to everything in their lives, not just ranching.  The holistic approach helps with problem solving.  Whether it is grazing, budgeting or family time, Ryan and Jamie attempt to make it all work together.

Paul serves as a board member of the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition and has been involved with the organization since the late 1990s. He is an organic farmer and works to utilize grazing for soil improvement. Paul also serves as a board of director for the Center for Rural Affairs and is a member of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, Holistic Management International and Practical Farmers of Iowa. He is married with two adult children.

Paul says, "Proper grazing management offers our greatest opportunity to regenerate worn out soils and improve better soils."

Vern and his wife, Marjean are involved in a diversified farm/ranch operation with his brother, Terry, and their sons, Brock and Seth and their wives. Vern is a Nebraska LEAD graduate and has attended the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, which he feels is an important learning experience for any grass and cattle manager. He is a member of Nebraska Cattlemen, Sandhills Cattlemen and Nebraska Farm Bureau as well having served on numerous boards.

Vern stated that "Whether it is our own pasture or our rented pasture, we feel it is our responsibility to improve the stand and quality. NGLC has programs to help educate us to meet these goals. We use different grazing methods on each place depending on water, number of pastures and condition of the grasses."

Mike and Fran Wallace own and operate the Double M Ranch, a multi-species (sheep-cattle-goat) pasture based operation near Nelson, Nebraska. They utilize year-round grazing, pasture lambing/calving in May/June, wintering stock on stockpiled standing forage with minimum use of mechanically produced-harvested-delivered feedstuffs. The use of multispecies grazing allows them to sustainably capture increased stocking rates, improved animal performance, diversity of income, and, improve the native range and introduced pastures.

Mike was born and raised on a dairy farm near Oregonia, Ohio, served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam, received a BS in Agricultural Science from Wilmington College in Ohio, an MS in Agriculture from the University of Kentucky and worked five years as an Animal Scientist for the University of Illinois at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, Simpson, IL. Since 1978 he has been the Sheep Operations Manager at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center, Nebraska where he also works closely with programs to improve the use of the Center's pasture and forage resources. Mike is past president and director emeritus of the Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers Association.