2009 Ag Adventure Tour
2009 Ag Adventure Tour Participants
(see additional pictures below)
The Nebraska LEAD Program Ag Adventure Tour in coordination with Leadership Omaha left on their journey, “We are Nuts for Northeast Nebraska,” recently. The purpose of the tour is to bridge rural and urban people together to find out more about one another and the issues impacting all sectors of the state. From nuts to making electricity out of hog waste, there were surprises at every turn.
“The diversity of the people that we meet along the tour and the diversity of the people who are on the tour is the best component,” said Linda Lavely, who works with the Omaha Presbyterian Foundation. “There are so many unique opportunities to learn about agri-business in Nebraska. . . . There are just all these little secrets we don’t know about as citizens of this great state!”
The unearthing of these “secrets” began at Pfizer in Lincoln where the group was joined by researchers to discuss the latest happenings in the industry. The group was led by Ron Kulwicki, Nebraska LEAD program alum. Pfizer is a global manufacturing center for animal health biological products, dedicated to producing vaccines for disease prevention. The Lincoln operations include plants in N.C. and Ill. The Lincoln site covers 145 acres and 1.08 million square feet. The business recently had a $76 million site investment. Pfizer exports nearly 50 percent of its production to more than 100 countries with major markets including; Korea, Brazil, Mexico and China.
Next on the tour, nut growing expert, Bruce Bostelman, also a Nebraska LEAD alum, discussed the nut growing industry and the cooperative that has been developed as the group traveled by the University of Nebraska nut tree orchard. Heartland Nuts ‘N More is a 35-member co-op owned by nut growers in Neb., Iowa, Kan. and Mo. that produces, processes and markets Midwest-grown black walnuts and pecans.
At their headquarters located in Valparaiso, Neb., Larry Martin, chairman of the group gave tour goers a peek at their nut cracking station. Martin explained that because they produce cultivar black walnuts they are picked in a fashion that makes them far sweeter than the typical English black walnut. He said Nebraska is the only location to produce the cultivar black walnut. He also noted that one ounce of nut meat is equal to eight ounces of red meat protein. Martin added that a diet consisting of both sources of protein makes for great balanced nutrition. The cooperative consists of thousands of trees and sells their product nationwide and is increasingly looking at international markets.
At David City, the group was not only welcomed by their unique parking (in the middle of the street) but also to a cultural gem in the middle of town. The Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art is the only museum devoted to art pertaining to fields, lands or their tenure in the United States. David City is the boyhood home of Dale Nichols, one of America’s foremost agrarian artists. In addition to works by Nichols, the collection includes Robert Bateman, John Steuart Curry, Winslow Homer, Robert Gwathmey and many others.
Among the many “secrets” along the way also included a presentation by Robert Brynes who spoke about his ventures, Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems (NRES) and Nebraska Screw Press. Brynes is an organic chemist by education and industrial chemist by trade. He has been working with biofuel researchers and producers across the state.
Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems (NRES) erected the first DC charging wind turbine built in the state for several decades. They were also involved in a 10KW grid inter-tie project in Northeast Nebraska and are planning to expand on these lessons to enable individuals to capture energy from the wind in a reliable and cost-effective manner. NRES has also erected a small wind turbine on its’ business location as a display. Erection of a DC charging turbine in a commercial zone was also a first in the state.
NRES is also the first registered producer of biodiesel in the state of Nebraska. With production started the end of July 2005, biodiesel produced by NRES at the Energy Farm will be produced using renewable energy from the bean itself (biodiesel generator and wind). Many different types of oilseeds have been crushed and more on the way. Biodiesel produced by NRES in Nebraska is done using ethanol and other renewable energy inputs.
Nebraska Screw Press is a Nebraska-based oilseed technology firm with almost 600Tons per day (TPD) of capacity in operation or under development. With almost 200 million gallons of vegetable oil being grown in corn and soybeans annually, Byrnes notes that Nebraska is a top vegetable oil producer with relatively little oilseed processing occurring within its borders.
Next stop was Danny Kluthe’s farm, where the Nebraska LEAD alum explained the background of his aerobic methane digester system that led to Olean Energy outside of Dodge. Kluthe said his motivation was to control the odors from his hog production facility. The company name is after the church across the road that he wished to protect the odor from and also for his product, lean hogs. The extra benefits of the project came in the form of electricity. Kluthe made his own investment into the project and also received grants to fund it to completion. Cuming County Public Power District helped conduct the feasibility study and submit grant applications, the Nebraska Environmental Trust gave the project a $200,000 grant and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service helped share the cost of lagoon piping. The USDA Farm Bill Clean Energy program also supported the project.
Manure from Danny's 8,000-head hog operation is pumped into the digester. The manure is heated and stirred to generate methane gas. The methane is captured by the digester cover and piped to the genset building where it is used to power an engine. The engine powers a generator that creates electricity. The 80-kilowatt generator then feeds electricity into the power lines. The electrical interconnection was designed by Nebraska Public Power District to the latest safety standards, which protects the production facilities, other customers and linemen who work on the lines. Because Nebraska is a public power state, any generation added to the power supply has to go through the review board. In essence, Kluthe sells the electricity he produces to the power company at wholesale and purchases it back off the grid just like any other electric user at retail prices.
One of the final stops on the tour was the St. Benedict Center outside of Schuyler. The center is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat and conference center, founded by the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory. The center is used by individuals and groups as well for retreat purposes and is open to all ecumenical backgrounds. At the center, the tour group was reminded that in all societies it is imperative that people first have the essentials of basic water, food, shelter and clothing in order to thrive culturally and spiritually. This was a strong message to both the urban and rural participants about the importance of a healthy agricultural system in order for any society to be successful.
Last on the list of adventurous stops was “James Arthur Vineyards” outside of Raymond. At the vineyards, James Arthur himself told the story of how what started as a hobby turned from vine to wine to a destination spot. There are currently 21 wineries in production and close to 300 vineyards across Nebraska. James Arthur Vineyards was the second winery in the state and is currently the largest. The estate currently covers 20 acres with nearly 12,000 grape vines. In addition, more than 20 other Nebraska growers are contracted with the vineyard to help produce the amount of grapes needed for each year’s supply.
From nuts to swine to wine, tour participants discovered there are many surprises right next door. Participant Bill Caldwell said, “The tour truly gives you a deep perspective on the multiplicity of agriculture.”
 Danny Kluthe, LEAD 25, Discusses the benefits of his methane digester near Dodge NE. |
 James Arthur of James Arthur Vineyard hosted the group for a wine tasting and tour at his vineyard near Raymond, NE. |
 First stop - a visit to Pfizer in Lincoln. |
 LEAD 27 Fellow Bruce Bostelman describes The Nebraska Nut Growers Cooperative at Heartland Nuts and More in Valparaiso. |
 Visiting the Bone Creek Agrarian Museum in David City - the only art museum dedicated solely to agricultural art in the United States. |
 Great networking opportunities as we traveled via bus. |
 The group as we departed from Wayne for our second tour day. |
 The Nebraska Energy Farm near Lyons, NE. |
 The group enjoyed their visit to the St. Benedict Center near Schuyler. |
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