Wayne Rasmussen along with his wife Judy of Plainview, were recently awarded the 2022 Nebraska Section, Society for Range Management (SRM), Rangeman’s Award.
This award recognizes ranchers for their outstanding success in management and improvement of Nebraska’s rangeland resources.
Rasmussen has managed his rangelands in central Knox County and has been a leader for rangeland advocacy across the entire state of Nebraska for decades. Raised on an eastern Nebraska farm, he has a lifetime of experience in caring for the land, his cattle, and family. Tuned in with proven, rangeland science, he has adapted his grazing management to thrive in his grassland environment.
A life-long learner of soil and plant health, Rasmussen endeavors himself towards opportunities to improve his pasture quality for livestock and wildlife.
He kept his grass profitable even in the face of broad scale conversion of rangelands to row-crop agriculture. He is a leader in utilizing prescribed fire in managing his pastures in Knox County and played a key role in developing two regional burn associations.
Additionally, he founded The Grassfed Exchange program, and serves on the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Board of Directors. Together, both he and Judy have been actively engaged in their local community. Rasmussen serves as a member of the Plainview-Brunswick Community Fund Advisory Committee; and Judy, served as an officer on the Northeast Nebraska Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D).
Among Rasmussen’s attributes, appreciation to continue learning and following proven, science-based management, hallmarks his character. Not surprisingly, Rasmussen has developed a lengthy resume of completed classes, trainings, and workshops to better himself as a ranch manager. However, he counts the conversations he and Judy have shared across the hood of the pickup with neighbors and natural resources professionals, the most memorable.
The Rasmussen’s lifetime of rangeland stewardship, advocacy and education for grass-fed beef systems, and combined leadership in their local community makes them both a priceless asset to Nebraska’s ranching community and well-deserving of the Rangeman’s Award.