Introducing your 2018 Farmer's Day dignitaries

Each year the Farmer's Day committee seeks nominations for stand-out citizens in three categories: Outstanding Farmer/Rancher, Outstanding Homemaker and the Grand Marshal. This year they culled the nominations down to three winners.

The 2018 Farmer's Day Grand Marshals are well known in both Kimball and Banner Counties and they have served the area for years in numerous ways; are committed to education and they are steadfast stewards of their home, their land and the relationships made in their hometown.

Kendall and Beverly Atkins were both born into rural families, she in Custer County and he in Kimball. In fact, Kendall was born on Farmer's Day weekend in October of 1933 in downtown Kimball.

Beverly, raised in Morrill, graduated from high school and went to Hastings College. She became a teacher and taught pupils in Nebraska and New Mexico, including Kimball and Gering.

Kendall lived in his family home north of Dix and eventually moved to Kimball to attend school.

As a graduate of the University of Nebraska, he was working in Gering with the UNL Extension when they met and they were married in 1961.

The Atkins' enjoyed more than 50 years being part of the Dix community. They remained active in many endeavors over the years throughout the Panhandle and beyond.

When farming and ranching was no longer enough to sustain their farm they were faced with a tough decision, to sell, move or find a way to stay.

"We decided to be creative and stay," Beverly said. They branched out into a specialty grass seed for reclamation in the Great Basin.

While they made their life and home in Kimball County, they often worked in Banner County as well. Kendall, an Extension Agent and Soil Conservationist, and Beverly were active in Kimball and Banner County Farm Bureau.

"We were fortunate to have worked closely in Banner County," Kendall said. "We met friends there that we still keep in touch with today."

In addition to the Farm Bureau, they were founding members of the Kimball Community Concert Association; active in historic societies, both have served on numerous boards, including the Kimball Banner County Extension board, the South Platte Natural Resources District board, the PEO, the Kimball County Manor board, school and tourism boards. In 1990 they developed Ag Fest – an educational program focused on agriculture for youth in fifth grade.

The program began small with 50 kids at five stations throughout the property learning for a half day.

By the time they ended the program there were nine stations and the Ag-Fest was an all-day event with approximately 100 kids. FFA volunteers assisted during the program.

Students learned about grains, animals, antique tools, conservation, and farming and ranching techniques as well as safety in the surrounding buildings and in the courtyard.

The program was so successful, Beverly said, that it was recognized at the national level through Farm Bureau and displayed in Alburquerque, N.M.

"We are grateful to the Ag Fest volunteers throughout the years, who have been just wonderful," she said.

Beverly was named to the Nebraska Hall of Ag Achievement for outstanding work in agriculture.

"I represent the people of ag who work hard in the profession, but may not get the notoriety," she said.

Recently the Atkins sold part of their farmland in Dix, but they still keep in touch with many of their former hired hands, including Dr. Patrick Hurlbut, who recently bought 'Rosie' the 1948 Dodge truck he drove while working on the Atkins' farm. Now, he plans to use Rosie on his own farm, but he also plans to restore her to parade condition and use the truck for parades.

"This honor is to be shared with those who worked with and for us – they continue to be part of our extended family, our organizations and our faith," Beverly said. The Atkins are members of the Kimball Presbyterian Church.

The Atkins have one son, Vance, who is a Hydrogeologist. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two step-daughters.

"We want to express our appreciation to our community for this nomination. We have enjoyed Kimball, we've made lifelong friends and we thank God for giving us those friends and for sustaining us," Kendall added. "We've had a good life in Kimball County."

Another family farm, Snyder Organic Farms was named the 2018 Farmer's Day Outstanding Farming Operation, a second such award for the Snyder family, as Glendel and Joan Snyder were honored with the same distinction in 1985. This year, the honorees are Glendel and Joan's son Larry and his wife, Nicole Snyder.

The Snyder family has been farming organically for nearly 20 years. Though, Larry said that quite a few farmers don't use herbicides and pesticides, the certification process to become an organic farm is lengthy.

"There are several certifiers and we are with Global Organic Alliance," Larry said. "We turn in a lot of required paperwork and then they send an inspector out annually as a minimum."

Soil and grain samples can be taken at will and spot checks are not uncommon in addition to the annual inspection.

The Snyder operation focuses on hard grain winter wheat though they do produce some spring crops as well on nearly 3,000 acres in Kimball County.

They farm family farmland as well as land that belongs to absentee land owners, some commercially and some organically.

"We have got some absentee land owners we're transitioning," Larry said. "It takes three years to start farming organically, and after that fourth year you can start selling the crop organically. It's a three year transition period."

Larry and Nicole both grew up with a farming and ranching background and they, in turn, raised their own kids on the farm.

Farming is not an easy life, nor is it a quick way to gain wealth, but the benefits outweigh the hardships such as weather, noxious weeds.

Organic crops command a higher price, according to the Snyders, but that gap is beginning to close, though the crop is becoming more readily available.

"In 15 years it will be the ordinary way to farm," Larry said.

Most of their product is used for feed for producers of organic livestock.

Nicole added that certifying livestock is even more difficult. "That market isn't as achievable for us."

The rural lifestyle is something that both Larry and Nicole grew up knowing and something they wanted to pass on to their children, Colton and Maddie, as well.

"The kids have always done livestock, through 4-H," Nicole said. "Maddie spent a lot of time with a previous Outstanding Farmer couple, Larry's parents. That family tie is really nice."

Larry's family also farmed throughout both Kimball and Banner counties. Nicole's family farmed in eastern Nebraska and then Dix before moving to Kimball where they continued farming and ranching.

"The reality of the economics of farming is that somebodies got to go get the health insurance," Nicole said. "It was important for us to live that lifestyle."

Another 2018 Dignitary, the 2018 Farmer's Day Outstanding Homemaker, Linda McGinnis, also grew up farming, eventually moving into town to raise her own family while maintaining as much of the rural values she grew up learning.

Growing up on her family's farm south of Kimball, Linda recalls knowing how to work hard, respect others and enjoy the outdoors.

"We were outside all the time," she said.

She attended business school after graduation but she returned to Kimball and began working in her hometown.

"Then I met Dan, got married in 1970," she said. They played in a two-piece band together in Kimball and traveled to many towns, including Hemingford and Sterling, Colo.

As they began having children of their own, they traveled less and stayed home more to raise their growing family.

She recalls a time without cell phones when the street lights meant kids came home and, if they didn't make it home quickly enough, calling them from the front porch brought them running.

"They played in the neighborhood a lot, they did have more friends, living here in town," she said. "I really didn't want to live in town. I thought it's harder to raise your kids in town, but still, you just raise them knowing respect and knowing right from wrong."

After working in several different businesses, Linda spent nearly three decades at the local grocery store. Now retired for three years, Linda is mom to three, grandma to nine and a great-grandma. She spent many years on the road following her kids activities and though she doesn't go as often now, she follows her grandkids to their events as well.

"I would like to know who thinks enough of me to do this?" McGinnis said.