LINCOLN – The Nebraska Cattlemen Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor the organization can bestow upon any one of its members, and at this past week’s annual awards banquet, it dropped right into the hardworking hands of Anselmo’s own George and Barb Cooksley.
The two are the owners and primary operators of Cooksley Ranch in Anselmo and have dedicated their lives to strengthening and shaping the beef industry in Nebraska.
Barb Cooksley says the honor is no small potato, and one that everyone has a piece of.
“It means a lot to be recognized by our fellow producers at every stage of the industry. We’re all in it together, and for us to be recognized one time is very special, very humbling.”
Both Cooksleys have been hard at work innovating in their industry even before they shared a name: well over 40 years. The duo work so well together, Barb says, because they bring different strengths to the same field.
“It was just a good fit; I’m always in the resource conservation and he always enjoyed the live cattle marketing, the brand issues, you name it. He was an animal science major, and I was an agronomy major in college, so we had different takes.”
The Nebraska Cattlemen Hall of Fame selection is based on contributions to the beef industry, contributions to Nebraska Cattlemen, community and civic contributions, and cattle business accomplishments.
Cooksley says that while the recognition is appreciated, there’s a reason the pair have stayed in their field as long as they have: the work in the beef industry and with the Nebraska Cattlemen is its own reward.
“It’s just what we do. We enjoy the challenges, the opportunities, and getting to serve the organization on a volunteer basis.”
Despite the recent adulation, the Cooksley duo have no plans to rest on their laurels; Barb says the pair will be staying as busy as ever, if not more so. The Nebraska Cattlemen, unlike other organizations, doesn’t equate its Hall of Fame awards to a retirement prize.
“They smiled when they gave us the award, and told us we aren’t done. I had been accepted on a national level of the CBA to be a vice-chair of the property rights and environmental management committee, and George will still be involved with the beef promotion side of things with the Beef Check-Off.”
The Cooksleys were in illustrious company on the evening of the awards banquet; the recipient of the Nebraska Cattlemen Industry Service Award for 2022 was none other than Governor Pete Ricketts.
