Category: Awards & Recognition

2016 Friend of LEAD Award

The 2016 recipient of the Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award is Dr. Don Swoboda.

This very prestigious award is presented annually, by the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association, to an individual and/or organization who has a distinguished history of providing outstanding support to the Nebraska LEAD Program.

Dr. Swoboda is a Nebraskan, born and raised on a dry-land farm in Stanton County Nebraska where he attended a one-room rural elementary school in that area and then graduated valedictorian from Stanton High School. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he received all three of his degrees in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Education and Adult and Continuing Education.

His professional career spanned some 43 years with 20 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln serving in various administrative posts including many years as both Assistant Director and Associate Dean and Associate Director of Nebraska Extension. Dr. Swoboda then went on to serve as Vice Provost for Extension at the University of Missouri in Columbia, the Dean of Extended University at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the Dean of Continuing Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then as Founding Dean of the Division of Extended Learning and Outreach at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

Dr. Swoboda, along with the IANR Vice Chancellor, the Deans of the College, Extension, and Experiment Station at that time, heard a common concern as they traveled the state and “that concern dealt with a way to continue the strong agricultural leadership across all areas of the agricultural industry and to address the critical need for training the next generation of leaders – – the future spokespersons, decision makers, and problem solvers for the industry of Nebraska Agriculture at the local, state, and national levels.” Soon a group of five agricultural leaders were appointed, including Dr. Swoboda, to meet on campus to discuss the issue and brainstorm possibilities.
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After several meetings of this group of five, one of the stronger national leadership programs identified was the California program that had started with a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. It was decided to try something similar in Nebraska as IANR had good contacts with the Kellogg Foundation and the Agriculture Builders of Nebraska agreed to serve as a partner with IANR on the initial grant proposal to Kellogg.

Throughout the process Dr. Swoboda represented IANR on the informal steering committee and the initial Board of Director’s for The Nebraska LEAD Program. The group of five eventually evolved into the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council. Dr. Swoboda was heavily involved with the initial administration of the LEAD Program and served as the go-between for IANR and startup issues that had to be quickly resolved. Within a year of the approval of the Kellogg grant – LEAD I started. Thirty four years later, the program continues to be recognized as one of the finest in the country because of those early founders like Dr. Swoboda.

Dr. Swoboda has been married to his wife Ginny for 50 years and they have two daughters and three grandchildren. He retired in October of 2010 and he and his wife live in Chandler, Arizona in the Valley of the Sun.

Congratulations go out to Dr. Swoboda and appreciation for his on-going support for the LEAD program!

Willow Holoubek Selected as 2016 NE Outstanding LEAD Alum

Annually the Nebraska LEAD Alumni present the award for Outstanding LEAD Alum. The 2016 recipient is Willow Holoubek of David City, member of LEAD class 26. Through her hard work to ensure a future for agriculture in the state, Willow Holoubek is deserving of this award. Holoubek has been the organizational director for A-FAN, the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska since 2010. Holoubek is responsible for administering the day-to-day management of the organization, in addition to working with A-FAN’s various committees and Nebraska agriculture promotion and education projects. Holoubek also serves as a resource for Nebraska farmers and ranchers looking to expand their livestock operations. A-FAN is a non-profit organization charged with developing educational opportunities and creating awareness about the importance of Nebraska agriculture, in addition to helping Nebraska farmers and ranchers in the responsible development and expansion of Nebraska’s livestock farms.

Holoubek also has worked as a private consultant and project coordinator in the area of bioenergy development, as the executive director of the Butler County Development Board, as program technician for USDA’s Farm Service Agency, and as a clerk in the Butler County Treasurer’s Office. Holoubek has deep roots in agriculture, spending the last 20 plus years working with her husband, Mark, and four children on the family’s grain and livestock farm near David City where they raise purebred Angus cattle, corn, soybeans and dairy-quality alfalfa. Willow Krause Holoubek earned an animal science degree from the University of Nebraska and is originally from the Alliance area.

The following are supportive comments: “Willow is a champion for animal agriculture in the state of Nebraska.  She continues to work hard to bring livestock opportunities to the state and she has been a strong leader of AFAN.  Her passion for agriculture shows through as she promotes Nebraska and the livestock industry.”
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“Willow has been a strong supporter and advocate for growing our rural communities.  Her knowledge and background in rural development lends itself well to her profession working with the AFAN organization.  She goes above and beyond to tell the story of what livestock development means to our small towns and to people in the industry.   Her drive and passion for growing Nebraska Agriculture is a top priority of hers and will always be.”

“Willow once was quoted in her role as Executive Director of the Butler County Economic Development Board, ‘In a few years we will look back and know that we made a difference.’ Perhaps this is the agricultural legacy of which Willow can be very proud and remembered: A deep-rooted Nebraskan who can look back and know that she made a difference in Nebraska.”

Dennis Kahl Named Outstanding Alum

Dennis Kahl Outstanding LEAD Alum
Doug Saathoff presents Dennis Kahl the 2015 Outstanding LEAD Alumni Award.

It is my privilege to introduce tonight the Outstanding LEAD Alumni for 2015.  The committee for this award sends out notices through the Alumni newsletter, social media, and by good old fashioned word of mouth.  Once again we had a tough decision to make, we had numerous nominations flow in, but after a thorough study of all candidates we have chosen Dennis Kahl from LEAD 9 to receive the 2015 Outstanding LEAD Alumni Award

I am sure you have read about Dennis in your program that was on you table tonight, but I wanted to share some of the comments we received from those that nominated Dennis for the award.

“One of Dennis best attitudes is he is always willing to help others.  He will put his work aside and help someone else. He may have to do his work at midnight, but he feels his calling is to help others advance in the area of agriculture, community development and technology. He is a leader in so many ways.”

“Dennis was a charter member of pops partner’s 4-H club – He has always promoted ag. And 4-H and the last years he has worked a lot with leadership development and community development.”

“I would like to nominate Dennis Kahl from LEAD IX for the “Outstanding LEAD Alumni Award”.  I know that Dennis has been very instrumental in developing leadership for small rural towns through his work as an Extension Educator for Seward County.

–I’d like to nominate Dennis Kahl, Extension Educator from Seward County.  I have known Dennis for many, many years, primarily in his role as Extension Educator, but also as a friend and co-worker.

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–Unite16 is a new venture that Dennis and the local economic developer, Jon Janks started.  Dennis has worked with youth for many, many years, supporting and mentoring them in their various entrepreneurship endeavors and this program, Unite 16, which is in Seward County, will bring business and entrepreneurship education into the school system.

–All in all, I think Dennis has shown his leadership skills not only in his position as an extension educator, but as a mentor, instructor, coach and friend to multiple entities all across the state.  I support him in my nomination for Outstanding LEAD Alum for 2014.”

The list goes on and on for Dennis and the work he has done for Nebraska agriculture and Nebraska rural communities.  Reading through the comments received from those who nominated him, you realize pretty fast he is doing a great job serving the needs of all Nebraskans.

So with that it is my honor and privilege to award the 2015 Outstand LEAD Alumni to Dennis Kahl LEAD 9.

  – Doug Saathoff

 

2014 Friend of LEAD

Ron Hanson
Dr. Ron Hanson – 2014 Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award

MARK:
Thanks Mike,  It is truly a privilege for my wife Willow and I to present the “Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award” tonight.  The Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association presents this very prestigious award annually to an individual or organization that has a distinguished history of providing outstanding support to the Nebraska LEAD Program.

For several years, the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association had talked about a way to recognize our friend and long time Nebraska LEAD Program Director, Dr. Allen Blezek for his many, many, years of outstanding and distinguished service to our program.  We concluded that one of the highest tributes that we could pay to him would be to annually present an award in his honor to someone who has provided distinguished service and superior support to the program.       So in 1999, the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association presented the award to none other than Dr. Blezek.  Since then, fourteen individuals and organizations have been recognized at this annual banquet. . . . And tonight that tradition continues with the presentation of this year’s Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award to. . . Dr. Ron Hanson.

Dr. Ron Hanson serves as the Neal E. Harlan Distinguished Professor of Agribusiness in the Department of Agricultural Economics at UNL.   In addition to teaching over 800 students in his classes each academic year, he serves as faculty academic adviser to 90 Department majors for (CASNR) the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.   Ron has been a member of the UNL Academy of Distinguished Teachers for the past eight years.  Professor Hanson has been recognized by the University Parents Association twenty-two times for his contributions to UNL students, the most recognition for any UNL faculty member.  My wife and I fully understand this level of recognition.  Let me share, 4 years ago with 3 sons as undergrads in the University of Nebraska system, our 4th baby had just received a D1 Volleyball scholarship to Coastal Carolina.  We were thinking, yes, no tuition fees for the 4th one.  However, she decided that she wanted to attend UNL and just be a regular student like her brothers.  And wouldn’t you know it.  Within days of that decision, a personal letter arrived from Dr. Hanson.  I will paraphrase the letter but basically it said, Katie, UNL is a great choice.  You might consider Ag Economics as a major and I would offer to be your advisor.   Well, in 57 days from this evening, our daughter Katie will graduate with an Ag Economics Degree, and three minors, Animal Science, Entrepreneurship and International studies.  On behalf of my wife and I, let me take this moment to personally say “thank you” for making a difference in her life.

Professor Hanson’s college teaching and student advising career of 40 years has earned a total of 29 University honors and national awards.  He has received the John Deere Agribusiness Teaching Award of Excellence and was named the Outstanding Ag College Instructor for the Central Region by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.  Ron was the first University of Nebraska professor to receive the USDA Excellence in University Teaching Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture which is the highest national teaching honor granted to a college professor in the area of agricultural and food sciences.  The award selection was based on exemplary teaching, innovative methodology, demonstrated teaching scholarship, and service to students, the university community, and to their professional discipline.

His most distinguished career honor was being named the Nebraska Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Higher Education in Washington, DC.  His most cherished honor was being named the University Educator of the Year by the Student Senate in 2008.

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Three decades ago, during the 1980’s when almost five times as many Nebraska banks failed as during the great depression, we were going through a rather tough time in our states agriculture sector.  Dr Hanson counseled, supported and advised a number of farm families that appeared at his office door who didn’t know where else to turn.  I can imagine many nights when the home phone would ring and Marylyn would simply say, “Yes, I will keep dinner warm and put the kids to bed”
Ron has been part of the Nebraska LEAD Program since the beginning.  He has been a presenter at every LEAD Class seminar, both September and March except for only two times during this span of more than 32 years.  His efforts have made a lasting impact on Nebraska LEAD Fellows as well as their families.

Dr. Hanson was raised on an Illinois family farm.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University and received both his Masters and PhD graduate degrees from the University of Illinois. Before coming to UNL in 1974, Dr. Hanson was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ag Industries at Southern Illinois University for two years.  Ron and his wife Marilyn have been married 45 years.  They have two children and four grandchildren.

LEAD class 32 and LEAD class 2, family and friends, University staff, LEAD alumni and all our guests, please join me in congratulating, welcoming and honoring the “2014 Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award” recipient — Dr. Ron Hanson!

Dr. Hanson could I ask you to come to the podium with you your lovely wife, Marilyn.
Dr. Hanson, it is my pleasure, on behalf of the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association, to say thank you and to present you with the “Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award” for the year 2014.  (Applause)

Marilyn, we know that behind every great man is a great woman,  we know that every night he spent with us was a night not spent with you and the family.  Please accept these flowers as a token of our appreciation for your support of your husband.