Future of farming in America: Farmers First

Kristen Sindelar
May 22, 2025
May 22, 2025

Farmers First 1.JPG — Gov. Jim Pillen, left, and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins examine the feed ration on a tour of the Ohnoutka farm near Valparaiso, Neb. Kurt Ohnoutka, right, is a fourth-generation farmer.
Midwest Messenger photo by Kristen Sindelar

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Kurt Ohnoutka is the fourth generation on the land his great-grandfather settled east of Valparaiso, Nebraska, but he’s especially conscious of threats to the ability to continue that legacy for his granddaughters, the sixth generation.

Farmers First 2.JPG — Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins interacts with the future of agriculture, Saunders County 4-H members, while touring Nebraska agricultural industries.
Midwest Messenger photo by Kristen Sindelar

kAmw6 >6?E:@?65 D6G6C2= 32CC:6CD ?6H 72C>6CD 7246[ D2J:?8[ “xE’D C62==J 2 DECF88=6 7@C E96> E@ AFC492D6 =2?5 2?5 6BF:A>6?E 3642FD6 E96J 5@?’E 92G6 42A:E2= J6E]”k^Am

kAm~9?@FE<2 H2D 92AAJ E@ 36 2 A2CE @7 2 5:D4FDD:@? 23@FE 86EE:?8 E96 J@F?86C 86?6C2E:@? :?G@=G65 H96? &]$] $64C6E2CJ @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 qC@@<6 #@==:?D G:D:E65 9:D C@H 4C@A 2?5 7665=@E @A6C2E:@? |2J `h]k^Am

kAm$E2?5:?8 @? E96 5:CE\7=@@C @7 2 >249:?6 D965 2E E96 CFC2= $2F?56CD r@F?EJ 72C>[ D96 2??@F?465 A@=:4J D96 D2:5 AC:@C:E:K6D E96 D>2== 72>6C] %96 u2C>6CD u:CDE :?:E:2E:G6 2:>D E@ 86?6C2E6 C6=:23=6 2446DD E@ 4C65:E 2?5 AC@G:56 8C62E6C 2446DD E@ 72C>=2?5]k^Am

kAm%9:D :?4=F56D 6?DFC:?8 E92E H@C<:?8 72C>=2?5 C6>2:?D :? 28C:4F=EFC6 AC@5F4E:@?[ ?@E D@=2C AC@5F4E:@?[ #@==:?D E@=5 E96 8C@FA @7 :?G:E65 28C:4F=EFC2= AC@5F46CD[ uup 2?5 c\w >6>36CD 82E96C65 2E E96 ~9?@FE<2 72C>] p=D@ :? 2EE6?52?46 H6C6 v@G] y:> !:==6?[ r@?8C6DD>2? p5C:2? $>:E9[ 2?5 }63C2D<2 s:C64E@C @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 $96CCJ ':?E@?]k^Am

kAm%96 u2C>6CD u:CDE :?:E:2E:G6 @FE=:?6D `_ 24E:@?23=6 2?5 >62DFC23=6 8@2=D 2:>65 2E :>AC@G:?8 E96 AC@7:E23:=:EJ 2?5 AC@DA6C:EJ @7 D>2== 72>:=J 72C>D]k^Am

k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\:?7@ E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\=67E E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\92=7Qmk9cm|@C6 x?7@C>2E:@?k^9cmkAm%96 u2C>6CD u:CDEi $>2== u2>:=J u2C>D !@=:4J p86?52 2:>D E@ AC@G:56 24E:@?23=6 D@=FE:@?D E@ 2 G2C:6EJ @7 492==6?86D 72465 3J D>2== 72>:=J 72C>6CD[ 2D @FE=:?65 :? 2 |2J `h &$sp AC6DD C6=62D6i]k^Am kAmp3@FE geT @7 E96 `]g >:==:@? 72C>D :? E96 &]$] H6C6 56D:8?2E65 2D 2 “D>2== 72>:=J 72C>” :? E96 a_ab &$sp t4@?@>:4 #6D62C49 $6CG:46 Wt#$X C6A@CE] %96 &$sp 567:?6D 2 “D>2==” 72C> 2D 92G:?8 2 8C@DD 42D9 72C> :?4@>6 36=@H Sbd_[___[ 2?5 2 “72>:=J” 72C> 2D @?6 H96C6 E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 3FD:?6DD :D @H?65 3J 2? @A6C2E@C @C :?5:G:5F2= C6=2E65 3J 3=@@5[ >2CC:286 @C 25@AE:@?]k^Am k@=mk=:mt?DFC6 $:>A=6 $EC62>=:?65 2?5 %C2?DA2C6?E %@@=D 2?5 pAA=:42E:@?Dk^=:mk=:mt?DFC6 #6=:23=6 p446DD E@ rC65:Ek^=:mk=:mt?DFC6 (@C<:?8 u2C>=2?5 :D &D65 E@ u2C>k^=:mk=:mt?DFC6 $>2== u2C>D r2? q6 !2DD65 ~? E@ E96 }6IE v6?6C2E:@? 7@C v6?6C2E:@?D E@ r@>6k^=:mk=:mwJA6C7@4FD &$sp !C@8C2>D 7@C u2C>6CD @? u2C>6CDk^=:mk=:m{23@C #67@C>k^=:mk=:mt?92?46 p446DD E@ #:D< |2?286>6?E 2?5 qFD:?6DD !=2??:?8 %@@=Dk^=:mk=:mt?DFC6 s67:?:E:@?D @7 u2C> $:K6 #67=64E |@56C? s2J #62=:E:6Dk^=:mk=:mt?92?46 u2C>6C p446DD E@ t5F42E:@?2= #6D@FC46Dk^=:mk=:m~E96C $>2== u2C> #6D@FC46D pG2:=23=6k^=:mk^@=mk^2D:56m

kAm“%@ 6?DFC6 E9@D6 72C>D 42? DE2CE 2?5 DE2J :? 3FD:?6DD[ 2?5 A2DD 2=@?8 E@ E9:C5[ 7@FCE9[ 7:7E9 2?5 D:IE9 86?6C2E:@? … H6 92G6 E@ 492?86 E96 H2J H6 E9:?< 2?5 E96 H2J H6 5@ 3FD:?6DD[” #@==:?D D2:5]k^Am

kAm%C2?D:E:@?:?8 72C>D E@ E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? H2D 2 <6J E@A:4 5FC:?8 E96 C@F?5E23=6 5:D4FDD:@? |2J `h 36EH66? E96 8@G6C?>6?E C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2?5 E96 `c AC@5F46CD H9@ C6AC6D6?E65 2 5:G6CD6 C2?86 @7 }63C2D<2 28 4@>>@5:E:6D[ 7C@> 4@C? E@ DF82C 366ED E@ 5CJ 362?D[ 2?5 7C@> 42EE=6 E@ 52:CJ E@ A@F=ECJ] %96 C@F?5E23=6 5:D4FDD:@? H2D ?@E @A6? E@ >65:2]k^Am

Farmers First 3.png — Roundtable discussions with agricultural producers and local government representatives have been a main focus for Brooke Rollins during her first several months as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Submitted photo

kAmp?@E96C C6D@F?5:?8 E96>6 #@==:?D E@FE65 H2D E96 56C68F=2E:@? @7 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E[ ?@E @?=J 7@C 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD 3FE 2=D@ p>6C:42 :? 86?6C2=] %9:D D6?E:>6?E :D 42AEFC65 :? E96 u2C>6CD u:CDE 24E:@? A=2? E@ >2<6 8@G6C?>6?E H@C< 7@C[ ?@E 282:?DE D>2== 72>:=J 72C>D]k^Am

kAm#@==:?D 56D4C:365 E96 “H9:A=2D9” 72C>6CD 92G6 6IA6C:6?465 6G6CJ 7@FC J62CD H:E9 5:776C6?E 25>:?:DEC2E:@?D @D4:==2E:?8 36EH66? @G6CC68F=2E:@? 2?5 56C68F=2E:@?] %96 u2C>6CD u:CDE :?:E:2E:G6 :D A2CE @7 “F?=62D9:?8 C68F=2E@CJ 3FC56?D]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Illinois brothers carry on dairy tradition
Better days for beets
Iowa dairy farm engages visitors while expanding operations
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
From the ground up: Jade Jandel builds his cattle herd on functionality, longevity
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Rodeo legacy lives on in Wessington Springs Family
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
Long time coming: Cattle to Canada, rain on the ground and remodel progress
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts

kAm#@==:?D H2D :? E96 (6DE (:?8 9625:?8 E96 5@>6DE:4 A@=:4J E62> 5FC:?8 s@?2=5 %CF>A’D 7:CDE AC6D:56?E:2= E6C>] w6 42FD65 H92E #@==:?D 56D4C:365 2D 2 “E64E@?:4 D9:7E” :? s]r] 9:D 7:CDE J62C 3J 6=:>:?2E:?8 aa C68F=2E:@?D 7@C 6G6CJ @?6 ?6H C68F=2E:@? 96 4C62E65] %96 D64@?5 J62C[ `f C68F=2E:@?D H6C6 6=:>:?2E65 A6C @?6 ?6H C68F=2E:@?] x? J62C E9C66[ E96 C2E:@ H2D ``i` 2?5 3J J62C 7@FC fi`] }@H 7@FC J62CD =2E6C[ E96 56C68F=2E@CJ 677@CED 2C6 282:? :? 7F== 7@C46]k^Am

kAm“%96 @AA@CEF?:EJ :D E96C6 E@ C62==J C6EFC? E96 A@H6C E@ E96 A6@A=6 2?5 C6EFC? E@ D6=7\8@G6C?2?46[ H9:49 :D H92E E96 7@F?56CD @7 E9:D 4@F?ECJ 6?G:D:@?65[” D2:5 #@==:?D]k^Am

Farmers First 4.JPG — Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, right, greets Nebraska producers prior to the roundtable discussion May 19.
Midwest Messenger photo by Kristen Sindelar

kAm$>:E9 6IAC6DD65 9:D DFAA@CE 7@C 255C6DD:?8 3FC62F4C24J 24C@DD E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E] w6 D2:5 E96J 92G6 2 =@E @7 H@C< E@ 5@ :? 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 677@CE E@ 6>A@H6C 3FD:?6DD6D[ 72>:=:6D 2?5 :?5:G:5F2=D 24C@DD p>6C:42]k^Am

kAm“&$sp’D ?6H u2C>6CD u:CDE DEC2E68J H:== 6IA2?5 >2C<6ED[ 56=:G6C C68F=2E@CJ C6=:67[ AC@>@E6 =@?8\E6C> 46CE2:?EJ 2?5 6?DFC6 2446DD:3:=:EJ @7 &$sp C6D@FC46D 7@C p>6C:42? 72C>:?8 72>:=:6D H@C<:?8 E:C6=6DD=J E@ 7665 2?5 7F6= E96 H@C=5[” $>:E9 DE2E65]k^Am

kAm!FEE:?8 3FC62F4C24J :?E@ AC24E:46 H9:=6 :? }63C2D<2[ #@==:?D D:8?65 @77 @? E96 DE2E6’D H2:G6C E@ 6I4=F56 D@52 2?5 6?6C8J 5C:?<D 7C@> :ED $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2> W$}p!X] }63C2D<2 :D E96 7:CDE DE2E6 :? E96 ?2E:@? E@ 92G6 :ED 2AA=:42E:@? 2AAC@G65 3J &$sp[ E@ 36 67764E:G6 y2?] `[ a_ae] !:==6? 42==65 :E 2 EC6>6?5@FD DE6A E@H2C5 :>AC@G:?8 E96 962=E9 2?5 H6==\36:?8 @7 E96 DE2E6]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D 23D@=FE6=J K6C@ C62D@? 7@C E2IA2J6CD E@ 36 DF3D:5:K:?8 AFC492D6D @7 D@52 2?5 6?6C8J 5C:?<D[” DE2E65 !:==6?] “$}p! :D 23@FE 96=A:?8 72>:=:6D :? ?665 86E 962=E9J 7@@5 :?E@ E96:C 5:6ED[ 3FE E96C6’D ?@E9:?8 ?FEC:E:@FD 23@FE E96 ;F?< H6’C6 C6>@G:?8 H:E9 E@52J’D H2:G6C] x’> 8C2E67F= E@ 92G6 H@C<65 H:E9 $64C6E2CJ #@==:?D 2?5 E96 %CF>A p5>:?:DEC2E:@? E@ 86E E9:D 677@CE 24C@DD E96 7:?:D9 =:?6]”k^Am

kAm%9:D :D D66? 2D 2 DE6A E@H2C5D ;F5:4:@FD=J FE:=:K:?8 8@G6C?>6?E 7F?5D] s@F3E 2?5 F?46CE2:?EJ F?56CD4@C65 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 v@G6C?>6?E t77:4:6?4J’D Ws~vtX 677@CED E@ C65F46 H2DE67F= 2?5 7C2F5F=6?E DA6?5:?8 2E E96 7656C2= =6G6=[ E96C63J 5:DCFAE:?8 8@G6C?>6?E AC@8C2>D 2?5 C65F4:?8 E96 H@C<7@C46] #@==:?D[ 9@H6G6C[ D2:5 E96J 2C6 “9JA6C\7@4FD65” @? 3@=DE6C:?8 &$sp AC@8C2>D 7@C 72C>6CD]k^Am

Farmers First 5.JPG — Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda amidst a group of agricultural producers, FFA and 4-H members at the Ohnoutka farm near Valparaiso, Neb.
Midwest Messenger photo by Kristen Sindelar

kAm%96 7:CDE :?:E:2E:G6 @7 u2C>6CD u:CDE H@F=5 DEC62>=:?6 2?5 5:8:E:K6 E96 &$sp 2AA=:42E:@? AC@46DD6D :? 2? 677@CE E@ C6>@G6 32CC:6CD 7@C 72C>6CD] #@==:?D D2:5 D96 2=D@ H2?ED E@ 6?DFC6 =@42= AC@5F46CD 92G6 AC:@C:EJ @G6C DA64:2= :?E6C6DE 8C@FAD :? C646:G:?8 &$sp 8C2?ED]k^Am

kAm“%2IA2J6C 5@==2CD E92E 2C6 4@>:?8 :?E@ &$sp H:== ?@H 36 7@4FD65 @? 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD 2?5 E96:C DF446DD[” #@==:?D D2:5]k^Am

kAm#@==:?D 24<?@H=65865 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 72C> 3:== 7@C 2 E9C:G:?8 72C> 64@?@>J 2?5 D2:5 E92E E96 72:=FC6 E@ A2DD @?6 92D 366? 56G2DE2E:?8 E@ >2?J 72C>6CD] $96 6IAC6DD65 @AE:>:D> E92E E96 “3:8[ 362FE:7F= 3:==” :D >@G:?8 7@CH2C5 2?5 E92E !C6D:56?E %CF>A :D “4@>>:EE65 E@ D66:?8 :E E9C@F89 7@C @FC 72C>6CD]”k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 H@C<:?8 ?@?DE@A] (6 42== :E ‘%CF>A E:>6’ :? E96 423:?6E[” #@==:?D D2:5 ;@<:?8=J]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D E96 ?6H &$sp[” D2:5 #@==:?D[ “@?6 E92E AFED 72C>6CD 7:CDE[ C2?496CD 7:CDE 2?5 28C:4F=EFC2= AC@5F46CD 7:CDE]”k^Am

Download PDF

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.