I started ranching after graduating for UNL , with a degree in Animal Science, in 1994. I am a first generation rancher. With a lot of hard work and preservation and having to work a job, off the ranch. I was able to grow and expand our ranch. My jobs included working for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commision, as a conservation technician for the wildlife division and then working for the USDA as a beef grader.I have combined all that I learned for college and from my previous jobs, to form the land and wildlife conservation practices and stewardship, that I practice to this day. I currently run a cow/calf herd , as well as running yearlings. I start calving June 1 and then wean the calves and put them on grass, as yearlings, before selling them. This allows me to best utilize and match the cows nutritional needs, with the highest nutrition, from the grass. I also no till farm, alfalfa, soybeans and corn, on pivot,gravity and subsurface drip irrigation, as well dry land acres. I apply manure on some of the acres and plant cover crops on other fields.I have converted some dry land acres to native range and plan on enrolling more into the Conservation Reserve Program.All of the pastures are cross fenced, and watered by windmills, solar wells and pipelines. I fence off all access to ponds and streams. This improves the water quality, and habitat around these water bodies, while making the cattle drink cold, clear water, from stock tanks.I also use a flushbar on the windrower and cut the hay using a design that allows wildlife an escape route, so they don’t have to cross barren ground to get to other edge cover. I have planted many miles of shelter belt trees, for both cattle winter protection and habitat for wildlife. These are fenced off to protect the trees from cattle rubbing on them. Almost all the practices I implement, benefit both the cattle and the wildlife.