McCullock attends 100th Farmers Union State Convention

By Corey McCullock

Contributor to Kat Country Hub

This past Friday and Saturday, December 6th and the 7th, I had the opportunity to travel to Grand Island for the 100th Annual Nebraska Farmers Union State Convention.

As the youngest attendee, I had a different perspective on many of the topics, but everything that was shared was vital information to the agriculture and energy industries of the state. I was able to hear from many wonderful speakers who had a very diverse background. I heard from the manager of Husker Ag which is an ethanol in Nebraska. I had the opportunity to listen to listen to speakers on the topic of corporates ag in the state. I also had the pleasure of listening to Lyons’ very own Chuck Hassebrook, who I am a proud supporter of in the election for governor!

Aside from speakers, I networked with many people who are trying to bring some sort of agriculture to the urban areas of the state like Omaha. One of the guys I roomed with was part of an organization in Omaha called City Sprouts. It was a group of young adults from the ages of 16-22 that would come out and help work in a community garden that supported organic and localized goods.

They grew many different vegetables and fruits, along with a chicken coop for fresh eggs! There was also a man there that I met at Market Place in West Point last year who I remembered. We conversed for awhile and I found out that he was thinking of starting a program for a group of 100 people to each buy a cow to put on the same piece of land.

It would take out much of the risk in just owning your own cow by itself. It would be a pool of meat that would be divided at the end, so even if you lost your cow, you would still get a portion of the meat. I was also hearing talk of a project that could possibly begin in a few different places around the state. I would share the project, but I am not sure if I’m allowed to. I really enjoyed attending the NeFU state convention this year. I am also a new member to the Nebraska Farmers Union.

If anyone would be interested in sharing ideas, or just talking about them, my email is cmccullock@unomaha.edu.

Nebraska Farmers Union State Convention. Photos Courtesy of Corey McCullock.