Hartington men inducted into Hall of Agricultural Achievement-Transit

LINCOLN – Ed Lammers explains it like this: You are either at the table or you’re on the table.

“I know those are harsh words, but I think it drives home a point,” the Hartington man said. “If we want to have a successful agriculture system, we need farmer input to inform our arena of work.”

Lammers has been at the table for nearly two decades, with work on both state and national soybean boards, the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers, and numerous other local and regional committees and organizations.

It’s from that work that he was recently recognized and inducted into the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Hall of Agriculture Achievement.

The honor was both surprising and humbling, Lammers said.

“Just to be recognized, number one, for my commitment and then to be recognized with the caliber of people that are in the Hall, it’s nothing that I anticipated,” he said.

The annual recognition banquet, held at the Nebraska East Union, recognized a total of 12 new members whose leadership spans production agriculture, extension, agribusiness and natural resources, and spans a broad cross section of Nebraska agriculture.

“The Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement exists to recognize individuals whose outstanding leadership and dedication have advanced agriculture for the benefit of our state and beyond,” said Mark Gustafson, president of the organization. Charles Wortmann, a Hartington native, was also recognized as a 2026 Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement honoree. He is an emeritus professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His research includes improved nitrogen and phosphorus management for improved nutrient use efficiency, water quality protection, and reduced nitrous oxide emissions in Nebraska's agriculture; and improving soil and water management for crop production in sub-Saharan Africa.

Other honorees include Gina Hudson, Belvidere; Kevin Hall and Tom Hayden, Bridgeport; Jim Girardin Jr., Broken Bow; Galen Frenzen, Fullerton; Melody Benjamin, Lakeside; Royce Schaneman, Lincoln; Duane Kristensen, Minden; Peggy Wells, Mitchell; and Jenny (Rees) Brhel, York.

Lammers said being involved in state and national agricultural organizations helped him learn and grow and gave new opportunities to him along the way. It’s been exciting to see changes in technology, new products and new markets emerge over the course of his farming career. Now, he’s focused on transitioning the family farm west of Hartington to his son, Kyle.

But he’s not done learning, growing and taking an active role in agricultural leadership, saying he’d like to get more involved in local agricultural organizations moving forward.

“I’m a firm believer in having a new set of eyes, a different perspective on things. I feel there’s a trend of people not really participating, or volunteering and it’s a concern of mine,” Lammers said. “It’s not all give, give, give, you have the opportunity to grow and learn. That’s what we need to do every day of our lives.”