STATEMENT OF MISSION
The Nebraska Agribusiness Club shall provide education and networking opportunities for Nebraska agribusiness and promote the value of agriculture to the Lincoln business community and consumers.
BACKGROUND | HISTORY
The idea of forming a club was initially discussed at a meeting in the late 1950’s which involved Gilbert “Gib” Ericson of Lincoln, former Nebraska manager of Farmland Industries; Dr. Howard W. Ottoson, former chair of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska; and Dr. Philip Henderson, former professor in the department. Following the meeting, they drew up a concept for the club. Invitations were sent to a list of people, representative of Town and Gown in Lincoln, to attend a meeting in the Cornhusker Hotel. Dr. Ottoson presided at the meeting which was devoted to the question of whether to organize the club. “The response was positive and the club was organized,” Ottoson said. Jack Hart, former editor of the Lincoln Journal, was elected president of The Nebraska Agribusiness Club on November 8, 1960. The initial Lincoln Journal article indicated “the group meets the first Monday of each month for lunch and a program to discuss agricultural developments and their effects on Nebraska. Other articles indicated “No dues are collected, no initiation is required, and the only requirement is an interest in agriculture and a desire to keep informed on the many aspects of farming, ranching, and agribusiness. . . those that attend regularly are informed of meetings by post card.”
Awards programs have been a part of the history of the club since the early days. The longest lasting, and most well known award, has been the club’s “Public Service to Agriculture Award” which was started in 1967 and continues yet today. The club now has annual dues, members are notified of meetings and speakers by email a couple of weeks before each meeting. A joint meeting with the Omaha Agribusiness Club is held during National Agriculture Week in the spring. No meetings are held in July and August. Some meetings are combined with tours.
Source: Most of the early history of the Nebraska Agribusiness Club was obtained from articles published by the Lincoln Journal on Nov. 8, 1960, June 5, 1961, Nov. 28, 1966 and Nov. 7, 1967 and previously compiled by long time club member Dick Fleming.
Nebraska Agribusiness Club 