Rob Raun dedicated his life to the advancement of Nebraska agriculture and creating a better understanding of rural-urban relations. Rob was a successful leader working hard to achieve goals related to improve agriculture in Nebraska. He served in a variety of state and local positions throughout his career all focused on the future of Nebraska agriculture.
On March 17, 1995, Rob Raun, a native of Kearney County and a life-long Nebraska farmer, was recognized as the 1995 Honoree by the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement for his dedication to the State of Nebraska's agricultural industry. Rob has received many honors and awards in the area of agriculture and, from his graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1951, has held many important positions in the field of agriculture.
Rob was born on April 22, 1928, in rural Kearney County in Nebraska. He received his primary schooling there and graduated in 1945 from Campbell High School, in Campbell, Nebraska. He served in the United States Air Force from 1946 to 1948 and attended the University of Nebraska. While at the University, Rob served as student body president and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, a social fraternity, as well as being a member of the Gamma Sigma Delta and Alpha Zeta honoraries. He also was a member of the Innocents Society. Rob graduated with high distinction in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in General Agriculture degree.
After graduation in 1951, Rob married Eileen Derieg of Hastings, Nebraska. They have six children and 18 grandchildren. He and his wife own and operate an irrigated farm near Norman in Kearney County. Rob is also currently President of the Nebraska AgRelations Council, and he is a trustee for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, one of the nation's largest philanthropic organizations.
Some of Rob's past honors and positions include: service as a University of Nebraska Regent from 1966-1981 (two elected terms and three years as Chairman), service on the Board of Directors for the Fort Kearney Beef Producers, service on the Board of Directors for the Farmers Union Business Association Cooperative, and service on the Board of Directors for the Farmers Coop Grain and Supply of Minden. He also belongs to several clubs and organizations including the Minden Rotary Club, the Nebraska Farmers Union, the Nebraska Corn Growers, the Nebraska Livestock Feeders, the Nebraska State Irrigation Association, and the Nebraska Water Resources Association. He served as Director of Agriculture for the State of Nebraska under Governor Bob Kerrey from 1983-1985.
His service as Director of Agriculture was typified by the handling of the problems of the packing plant in York. He was successful in having the State of Nebraska declared the receiver of the plant as it went into bankruptcy, which prevented the loss of payment to a large number of cattle feeders in Nebraska. He served on the Catherland Reclamation District Board, Nebraska's Economic Development Commission, and was co-chairman of the University of Nebraska's Presidential Search Committee in 1993. Rob also was the author of the column, "One Farmer's Notebook," that appeared in the Nebraska Farmer magazine from 1970-1983. He played a key role in the successful establishment of the Nebraska LEAD Program.
Rob's many awards include the Annual Award from the Nebraska Council on Public Relations in 1985, the Nebraska Builders Award from the University of Nebraska (the highest non-academic honor given by the University) in 1987, and 1993 he was named to the Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor for Agriculture.
Rob Raun has served his local community as well as his entire state. One of his local projects included the building of a veteran's memorial in a local cemetery. In another project, Rob was instrumental, through a lawsuit, in brining common sense and cooperation to the issue of restoring wetlands in the Rainwater Basin. Rob has always been involved in the future of Nebraska crops as well. A large-scale project of his is to help turn milkweed into a cash crop for Nebraska farmers. Water and irrigation have been high on a big list of priorities for Rob. He served as Chair of the Resource Development Committee of Governor Bob Kerrey's Water Independence Congress.
Rob's many positions serving the State of Nebraska and serving his local community make him a well-deserved Honoree of the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. Rob has been successful as a leader by working hard to achieve goals related to a better agriculture in Nebraska but allowing others who work with him to receive the credit. Rob Raun has dedicated his life to the advancement of Nebraska agriculture and to the better understanding and improvement of rural-urban relations as well as being a father to his six children. Rob exemplifies everything that is meant by the term "agriculturalist." There is no better time for Rob Raun to receive this honor from the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement so he can enjoy his recognition for a lifetime of service to his State and his family.
