The 2014 Pioneer Farm Family and Heritage Farm Family Awards have been presented by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation and the Nebraska Farm Bureau along with the Nebraska Fair Managers Association to several families across the state.
The Pioneer Farm Award recognizes members of the same family who have owned a parcel of land consecutively for at least 100 years.
This year there were 148 honorees. Since its inception 59 years ago, the Pioneer Farm Award has been granted to more than 8,100 families.
The awards were presented during Nebraska’s county fairs in which the land is located.
Among those receiving the award was the Forney Ranch of Sheridan County.
Located north of Lakeside, the ranch was founded in 1906 by Stanley Forney, who moved from Casper, Wyoming with his family – which included his only son Hubert. They were located by Old Jules Sandoz on the outside fence line of the Spade Ranch. Both Stanley and Hubert filed claims in 1906. The ranch grew in size as others sold. It passed from Stanley and Hubert to Hubert’s only son, Donald, who continued its expansion. Forney Ranch was incorporated in the 1960s with the stockholders being Don and Oliva Forney’s children; Bruce, Glen, Joann, Dean, and Kent. Today, it encompasses 22,000 acres.
The following is a listing of the recipients by county:
2014 PIONEER FARM HONOREES
Adams County: Janice Gingrich and siblings, Bladen
Antelope County: Galen and Marilyn Rader, Brunswick
Arthur County: Barbara Hartman, Hartman Ranch Inc., Arthur; Wilsie L., Rex and Harry Cross, Arthur
Banner County: Jack and Debra Cochran, Kimball
Boone County: Keith and Mary Bittner, Albion
Box Butte County: James Mracek, Alliance
Buffalo County: Charlotte Heermann, Milford; Connie Riessland, Pleasanton
Burt County: Gerald and Mary Paulsen, Oakland; Richard and Loraine Johnson, Lyons; Anthony Scott Johanson, Oakland; Donald R. Cain, Arlington
Butler County: Leon and Nancy Piitz, Brainard; Sharon (Barlean) Hoeft, David City
Cass County: George Buell, Maxine Buell, Dale Hall, Gary Hall, Glenn Hall, Shirley Wenzel and Marion Wenzel, Elmwood; Donald Rikli, Murdock; Herbert and Nancy Heil, Sonoma, California; Patricia Eaton, Alvo
Cedar County: Judy Bertoloth Hinrichsand Betty Hinrichs, Laurel
Cherry County: Byron and Jean Stolzenburg, Crookston
Cheyenne County: Lillian Sharman, Sidney; T.E.S.S.S. Farms Inc., Esther Houser, Sidney
Clay County: Kinyoun Family Trust, Shoreline, Washington; Robert and Joyce Dane, Doniphan; Ward A. Fitzke, Elwyn R. Fitzke and Tyler D. Fitzke, Fairfield
Colfax County: Stephen and Joan Ruskamp, Dodge; Reha Family Farms, Russ and Carol Reha, Schuyler
Cuming County: Mary Ann Ruskamp, Dodge; Beverly Landholm, West Point; Randy Eggers, Wisner
Custer County: Leona Marie Anderson, Comstock; John Slagle, Sargent; Edward Arthur Sterner, North Platte
Dakota County: Larry and Jeanine Grove, Hubbard
Dawes County: Russ Garner, Crawford
Dixon County: Randy and Kris Gensler, Allen; Audrey Dohma, Ponca
Fillmore County: Michael Rath, Sutton; Opal Matejka, Strang; Scott and Judy Houck, Strang; Lindsey Dawn Stone, Hastings; Taylor Family Farm, Geneva; Wayne and Joy Houchin Jr., Strang
Franklin County: Phyllis (Seybold) and Eldon Rhodig, Omaha
Frontier County: Steve Hall, Brad Hall and Trista Jesch, Curtis; Nick and Amy Brown, Curtis; Robert and Vonnie Tiller Family Trust, McCook
Furnas County: Douglas and Betty Garey, Beaver City; Francis Gibson Baily, Oxford
Gage County: Rodney and Mary Scherling, Beatrice
Garden County: Lobner Land and Livestock Inc., Lewellen; Theodore Fiesterman, Lewellen; David and DeLoris DeLaet, Lewellen; McCarty-Davis Ranch Inc., Bingham; Marlene Myers and Lynn Myers, Lewellen
Gosper County: Loretta Fay Oberhauser Kliewer, Aurora; Shirley Ebmeier, Bertrand; Dorothy Lerdall, Elwood
Grant County: Lazy Bones Ranch Inc., Ashby; Harry Merrihew, Ashby; Arthur Dubs, Ashby; Edelman Enterprises Inc., Hyannis
Greeley County: M. Darlene McCray, Fullerton
Hall County: Lawneyand Jim Rathman, Grand Island
Hamilton County: Steven Cutts, Giltner; Karen (Perry) Holloway, Aurora
Hitchcock County: William R. Brown, Trenton
Holt County: Dorothy Conway Wahrmann, Omaha; Holly and Gretchen Holliday, Orchard; Dona Trowbridge, Page; William and Elizabeth Troshynski, Atkinson; Gary and Deborah Olberding, Stuart
Howard County: Charlotte and Gary Rasmussen, Elba; Eleanor Nielsen, Dannebrog
Johnson County: Beverly Aerts and Roger Smidt, Omaha; Lyle Fisher, Cook; Steve Mommens, Tecumseh
Kearney County: W & D Muller Family Partnership, Kearney
Keith County: Caleb Johnson, Ogallala
Kimball County: Lois Gustafson, Dix
Knox County: Margaret Arens, Crofton
Lancaster County: David Nielsen, Lincoln; Robert Retzlaff, Walton; Cheryl Johnson, Walton; Alice-Leone Boesiger, Firth
Lincoln County: Myron and Kathleen McCune, Sutherland
Loup County: Donald, Neva and Bryan Murphy, Milburn
Madison County: The Melvin H. Willems Revocable Trust, West Hills, California
Merrick County: Edward and Marilyn (Holtorf) Kyes, Central City; Mildred (Friederichsen) Scarborough, Palmer
Morrill County: Doug Kizzire, Bayard
Nance County: Laverne Rathje, Fremont; Robert and Karen McNeff, Palmer
Nemaha County: Dorothy Nieder-meyer, Johnson
Nuckolls County: Lee and Charlotte Clabaugh, Nelson; Ann Schroeder Heirs, Davenport; James, Jeff and Jerry Horst, Edgar; A & W Acres, Davenport; Jacqueline Wehrman Davis, Patricia Wehrman Whiteley Melroyand Deborah Wehrman Larson, Kenesaw
Otoe County: Richard and Bonnie Warner and Ron and Ruth Gibbs, Nebraska City; Mary Ann Griepenstroh, Syracuse
Pierce County: Rosemary Frey, Frey Zephyr Revocable Trust, Pierce
Platte County: Brian and Kara Greisen, Platte Center; Keith and Colleen Kapels, Creston
Polk County: Bill Brigham, W. James Brigham Living Trust, Shelby
Richardson County: Jon and Lacey Snoke, Humboldt; Marilyn (Stauffer) and Clarence Planer, Newton, Iowa
Rock County: Jimm Johnson, Bassett; Royce Stout, Bassett
Saline County: Roger and Janice Belohlavy, Crete; Gary and Carole Bors, Crete; Mary Virginia and Catherine Burns, Friend
Sarpy County: HRL Properties LLC, Omaha
Saunders County: John and Karen Sousek, Malmo; Allen Arp, Yutan; Morris and Jean Erickson, Mead; Rita Freeman, Colon; Gary and Maxine Kratky Revocable Trust, Omaha; Steven Rezac, Valparaiso; Mary Kaye Stoeber, Antony R. Berkland and Justin Berkland, Fremont; Russell and Karen Swanson, Wahoo; Margie Vrana, Wahoo
Seward County: Dennis and Bonnie Hentzen, Seward; Marilyn and Richard Bohaty, Seward
Sheridan County: David and Phyllis Briggs and family, Alliance; Forney Ranch Inc., Lakeside
Sioux County: Bonnie Cawiezel, Morrill
Stanton County: Barbara Greunke, Mardell Kropp and Anthony Wemhoff, Fremont
Thayer County: Michael and Yvonne Hoops, Byron; Dorothy E. Pohlman Irrevocable Trust, Kearney
Thurston County: Marlon Hennig, Rosalie
Valley County: Maresh Land, LLC, York; Czech 4 Lucky Stars, LLC, Burwell; Wilma Maresh, Ord
Washington County: Triple P Dairy Farm, Herman
Wayne County: Walter and Saundra Biermann and Aaron and Theresa Biermann, Wisner
Webster County: lla Mae McConkey, Blue Hill; Ricky C. Howell, Nankato, Kansas
York County: Isabelle Marie Whitemore, McCool Junction; Karol Swan, Frank Swan, Clay Swan, David Swan, Sheri Swan and Jordan Swan, York; Quintessential Acres, LLC, Waco; Charles and Barbara (Brooke) Kaiser, York