Young Otoe County cattleman goes from showing to selling show cattle

Kristen Sindelar
Jul 8, 2026
6 hrs ago

Will Janssen of Syracuse, Neb., has been building the cattle herd he began in seventh grade.
Photo by Melissa Apel, Maple Creek Photography

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Most teens aren’t leaping out of bed at 6 a.m. to wash calves before the heat of the day. Then again, most seventh graders aren’t begging their parents to let them buy cows, either.

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Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.