For 2022, it is my pleasure to have the opportunity to present this 23nd award of recognition to an individual who has played a very critical role in the establishment of the Nebraska LEAD Program and who has provided tremendous leadership and support for the University in Nebraska over the years.
The 2022 award goes to Roger Hanke of Palmer. Mr. Hanke, in the 1970’s was a strong supporter of Cooperative Extension in Nebraska and served as Chairman of the State Extension Board. He was very active in the Nebraska Young Farmers and Ranchers Educational Association, serving in several state officer positions. Roger was already a proven leader in Nebraska’s agricultural industry and he saw the need for a creation of a program to develop the future leaders. Early on, Roger was asked to serve on a steering committee to develop what eventually would become LEAD. He was part of developing the broad philosophy of what LEAD should do for the future of Nebraska agriculture. Roger along with Paul Eveland, Bob Gingery, and Hollis Miller were members of the Ag Builders Leadership Committee that met on January 26, 1981 to discuss the proposed Agricultural Education Foundation. Also, in attendance were Dr. Jim Horner, Professor of Agricultural Education and Don Swoboda, Associate Dean of Cooperative Extension. This committee decided that the Board should consist of not less than 15 persons or more than 20 and that each board member should be vitally interested in assisting to develop rural leadership in Nebraska. It was also decided during this meeting that Eveland, Gingery, Hanke, Miller and Horner would be the initial directors of this corporation and . . . it was decided to change the name of the corporation from the Agricultural Education Foundation to the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council. Roger and his fellow directors developed and adopted the Articles of Incorporation and developed a list of potential committee members and future board members. As Roger shared, “We learned from the set-up of Ag Builders on how we should set-up the NALC.” In the early years, Roger served the NALC Board as Chairman Pro Tem and Vice President. Because of his statewide reputation as a leader, Roger’s support of the need for an adult agricultural leadership development program was instrumental in getting the Nebraska LEAD Program off the ground. Roger has also served on the advisory councils for the South Central Research Center and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and continues to be an active member of the Ag Builders of Nebraska. Roger and his wife, Diane have three children.
With great respect, I am proud to introduce to you, Roger Hanke, a founding father of the Nebraska LEAD Program.
Mr. Hanke, as a small token of our appreciation for all that you have done for the Nebraska LEAD Program, it is my pleasure to honor you as the “2022 Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award” recipient.