Nebraska Corn Board Recognizes Agriculture Leaders at Annual Awards Dinner

Curt_Friesen_Ag_Acheivement_2024.jpg: Nancy Friesen joins her husband, Curt Friesen, the 2024 Ag Achievement Award recipient to receive the award from Jay Reiners, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board on Tuesday, March 12.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Two awards were given out at the Nebraska Corn Board’s (NCB) 2024 awards dinner on March 12 in Lincoln. The annual awards event highlights outstanding contributions to the state’s corn industry. Each of the recipients has a long history of serving Nebraska agriculture.

The first recognition of the evening was the Ag Achievement Award. This honor, first presented in 1991, was designed to recognize outstanding and generous efforts to further the state’s corn industry. This year’s 2024 Ag Achievement Award was presented to Curt Friesen.

Curt Friesen has over 40 years of experience operating and managing his farm near Henderson and is a fourth-generation farmer in Hamilton County. He and his wife, Nancy, raise white corn, yellow corn and soybeans on irrigated land that now includes the fifth generation with his daughter Kori and son-in-law Jason incorporated into the operation. 

Friesen has been very active in the agriculture industry in local, state and national organizations. He is an alumnus of the Nebraska LEAD program. Locally, he has represented agriculture by serving on the Hamilton County Groundwater Conservation District, Blue River Association of Groundwater Conservation Districts, Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District and the Hamilton County Corn Growers Association. On the state level, Friesen represented District 34 in the Legislature, served on the Nebraska Corn Board, has been part of the League of Nebraska Municipalities, Senator Stuhr’s Advisory Committee and the Governor’s Water Policy Task Force. Not only has Friesen represented agriculture in Nebraska, but he has also represented agriculture on the national level by serving on Congressman Tom Osborn’s Ag Advisory Committee and the National Corn Growers Association’s then Public Policy Action Team.

“Curt is a prime example of someone who has created a legacy of excellence over the years,” said Jay Reiners, chairman of NCB. “As we celebrate Curt and his accomplishments, his impact has created a movement of leadership throughout the state, even within his son-in-law involved with Nebraska Corn on the state and national levels. He deserves the 2024 award for all his achievements, especially in agriculture.”

The NCB Vision Award’s purpose is to honor individuals, industry leaders, businesses or organizations that have gone above and beyond to help NCB achieve its vision of enhancing demand, adding value and ensuring sustainability.

The recipient of the 2024 Nebraska Corn Board Vision Award is the Lindsay Corporation. Since 1955, Lindsay has been a pioneer provider of irrigation and water management solutions. From Zimmatic pivot systems to FieldNET, their portfolio is full of industry-leading products and services to help conserve resources, increase yields and benefit farmers worldwide.

Lindsay is committed to creating a more sustainable future. Their technology is designed to help growers, landowners and agronomic advisors conserve resources by equipping them with the data and insights to run their irrigation system with precision. With research and innovation to new uses, farmers are provided with top-tier technology from Lindsay. 

“The Lindsay Corporation has made significant contributions to farmers across the state and world,” said Dan Nerud, District 1 director of NCB. “As farmers need to continue to use the best technology for the future, we look forward to what is to come, knowing how worthy they are to receive the Nebraska Corn Board Vision Award.”

Gustavo Oberto, Brian Magnusson, Eric Fleming and Kurtis Charling attended and accepted the award on behalf of the Lindsay Corporation.

Each award winner was identified and selected by NCB.