1998 Merlyn E. Carlson

Thank you President Klosterman, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen. I am both honored and deeply humbled by my task this evening, which is to pay tribute to a great Nebraskan, but try to describe briefly his timeline of accomplished leadership. Your 1998 Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement Honoree makes brevity difficult.

Merlyn Carlson is perhaps the quintessential Nebraskan. He was born and raised in agriculture – still the soul of Nebraska culture; raised in the 3rd Congressional District, often described by former Congresswoman Virginia Smith as the most rural of rural America. Few people beyond Cheyenne County would have any idea of the existence of Lodgepole, Nebraska, were it not for the notoriety of its distinguished son whom we honor tonight. He went off to the "city" for high school – Chappell (pop. 1095) – where he was valedictorian and first served notice that this was a young man with high expectations, and the capacity to reach them. But as we tell his story, know that Merlyn's foundation has never wavered from his Nebraska roots, and no border nor stereotype has ever confined his vision.

Merlyn first attended the University of Nebraska, then came back west to Colorado State University. There he earned his Bachelor of Science degree and, more importantly, met the life partner, Janice, who would accompany him of the odyssey of leadership that would take them across America and to many parts of the world. But in spite of Merlyn's ever-widening universe of interest and influence, they never forgot where "home" was – on that ranching, farming and cattle feeding operation in Nebraska's panhandle, zip code 69149. Unquestionably, with Merlyn's intellect and ability to achieve, he could have built a career anywhere. But, in that rural high plains community he and Jan chose to build their business and their family on the same values from which they were spawned, and it makes us especially proud to claim them as our own.

Over the years, Carlson Ranch Company has been involved in a diverse mix of agricultural enterprises. They engage in dry land and irrigated crop production, nearly every phase of beef cattle production, and have even fooled around with what we, in my shop, call the "short-leggers." But, make no mistake about it, regardless of the range of his business interests, Merlyn Carlson is, at his core, a cattleman. His passion for the people and product, the history and promise of that industry has driven his high-energy involvement in nearly every major beef cattle organization in the United States.

Perhaps my first knowledge of this remarkable emerging leader was when he was elected president of the Nebraska Stock Growers Association in 1969 – the youngest president in the long history of the Stock Growers. And, as has not become expected of Merlyn, he began to drive change. During his two-year term, he organized the first county of bi-county cattlemen's associations; he organized the first foundation which led to establishment of the first range research station and the awarding of scholarships to students in agriculture; and, perhaps prophetically, he initiated the first joint lobbying effort with the Nebraska Livestock Feeders Association.

Over the next decade, Merlyn worked vigorously at the national level, first through the American National Cattlemen's Association, which eventually joined with the National Livestock Feeders Association. He was then elected among the early presidents of the newly created National Cattlemen's Association (NCA) in 1980. Once again, he applied his leadership to foster change. While an officer, Merlyn met and worked with three presidents – Carter, Reagan and Bush – on issues of concern to the cattle industry. He worked with Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volker to gain relief from all-time high interest rates, and he interacted closely with several Secretaries of Agriculture on a wide variety of domestic and international issues.

While a leader at NCA, Merlyn initiated the first "Industry Plan" for promoting beef in the marketplace. That plan led eventually to the establishment of a national beef checkoff, which has since changed the entire course of the industry. Of special interest to me personally, during his presidency Merlyn initiated a program at NCA we call the Young Cattlemen's Conference or "YCC". It is a remarkable leadership development program, now in its 19th year, which was clearly challenged and changed the lives of its participants. I was in the first class of YCC in 1980.

For many, holding that high national office with its tremendous load of responsibilities and time commitments would have been cause to say "uncle – I've given as much as any human should be asked to give! I'm gong home." But Merlyn Carlson is not like many; he is unique. And his view from that peak only allowed him to see other possibilities he felt the beef industry could not ignore. So, with scarcely a breather, he took his saddlebag of leadership capabilities and headed off on another difficult quest.

This time, he worked with other industry leaders to help write the federal Act and Order leading to the first national beef checkoff program. As one of the pioneers who led that trek, he was appointed to the first Board of Directors and eventually vice chairman of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, the body established to administer the checkoff. As falls to the true innovators, Merlyn and his colleagues were charged with the difficult tasks of developing articles and bylaws, policies and procedures, committees, and operating structures for the new organization.

Not losing sight of beef promotion, research and education efforts in his own state, Merlyn was later elected to the board of directors of the Nebraska Beef Council where he served for eight years, two as its chairman. Here Merlyn focused on what has become a hallmark of his leadership style: building unity among parties that have historically looked for their differences, rather than common interests. He led efforts to build bridges of communication and cooperation between the Nebraska Beef Council and other commodity groups, the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the results of which will benefit all parties involved for decades to come. He also used his broad vision and experience to see that the resources of the Nebraska checkoff were properly focused and coordinated with the national program for beef promotion, which concentrates resources on targeted areas where population and market demographics create the greatest opportunity for increased beef sales.

At the same time Merlyn was working at the local level on beef promotion, he was continuing to build his knowledge of and involvement in the global marketplace for US beef. Based on that interest, he became involved and, not surprisingly, has emerged as a leader in the U.S. Meat Export Federation. He served as chairman of the Beef and Allied Industries Committee for four years. Continuing his pattern of innovative leadership, Merlyn led a restructuring of the committee organization to achieve greater member involvement, enhanced service to the beef industry, coordination of planning and implementation functions with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and improving evaluation of program effectiveness. He has been a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors and was recently elected vice chairman of the Meat Export Federation.

Finally, as one consider the many changes that have occurred in the beef industry during Merlyn's career, one of the most revolutionary occurred in 1996 when the National Cattlemen's Association and the Beef Industry Council of the National Livestock and Meat Board merged to create the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Once again, Merlyn's broad vision and steady hand of leadership were called upon to achieve this challenging objective. He served on the Transition Executive Committee whose trailblazing efforts made the merger possible, then has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of NCBA in its first two years of existence.

While Merlyn's image is closely bound with the cattle industry, it would be unfair to leave the impression he has been so singularly focused with his leadership gift. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, examining issues affecting all of agriculture and the complexities of that marketplace. He was on the board and three years Vice Chairman of the Rural Telephone Bank Board in Washington, DC, and was on an advisory board for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Closer to home, Merlyn has served on the boards of the Deuel County Soil Conservation Service and the Chappell Farmers Elevator. But it's not all agriculture. Regardless of his world travels, Merlyn's "sense of place" is greatest in his local community, having served as president of the Chappell Rotary Club, and on the boards of the Methodist Church, the Deuel County Memorial Rest Home, the Lodgepole Lions Club, and the Sidney Medical Corporation.

Merlyn's remarkable accomplishments have, of course, not gone unnoticed by many major organizations and institutions. The University of Nebraska has awarded him its "Agriculture Contribution Award" and the Block and Bridle Club named him its honoree. Colorado State University has given him the Honor Alumni Award. Statewide honors include the Ak-sar-ben Agriculture Award, the Nebraskaland Foundation Award, and being named an honoree by the Nebraska Agribusiness Club. Nationally, he was named "Man of the Year" by the Record Stockman and has been inducted into the Northern International Livestock Exposition Hall of Fame.

As I prepared for this tribute, reviewing materials as well as my own impressions and recollections, two words kept emerging. They are "first" and "unity."

Merlyn has done a lot of things, and that is laudable in itself. But a lot of people have done a lot of things. In my view, the reason we gather tonight in Kearney, Nebraska is to honor a man who has done a lot of things first. He has done them before there was an instruction book; he has done them before everyone else thought they were a good idea; he has done them when the only voice to which he could turn for counsel was the one deep within himself. That, I think you will agree, distinguishes true leadership from simple activity.

Likewise, as we discuss all these things Merlyn has done and the organizations he's formed and led, we need to recognize the level of dissension and conflict into which he was willing to wade in order to achieve his sense of the common good. These were not Mayday celebrations where everyone was just searching for their streamer in the collective dance around the Maypole. These were situations covered with predictions of doom and foreboding, even outright threats, as they called for abandonment of old conflicts and attitudes in order to achieve progress in an uncomfortably changing world. The challenges to leadership were, and are, enormous and success never a certainty. But Merlyn has consistently placed good and right over comfortable and easy when determining his willingness to provide leadership. His record speaks for itself and will continue speaking for generations.

Merlyn, on behalf of those assembled and your many fans and followers around the world, it's my privilege to say "thank you" for the remarkable job you've done, and "thank God, you're not done yet!" Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in saluting your 1998 Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement honoree, Merlyn Carlson.

Tribute to Merlyn E. Carlson 1998 Honoree Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement

Merlyn Carlson was raised in agriculture, in the most rural of rural American near Lodgepole, Nebraska. Though leadership activities have taken him far and wide, he and his wife, Janice, have never lost their roots in their panhandle community and family agricultural operation.

Carlson Ranch Company includes a diverse mix of agricultural enterprises. But, make no mistake about it, Merlyn Carlson is, at his core, a cattleman. Among early achievements was his election as president of the Nebraska Stock Growers Association in 1969 – the youngest president in its history. A little over a decade later, he was elected the first president of the newly created National Cattlemen's Association (NCA) in 1980. While an NCA officer, he met and worked with three U.S. Presidents, the Federal Reserve Chairman, and several Secretaries of Agriculture on a variety of domestic and international issues. He also initiated the first "Industry Plan," leading eventually to the national beef checkoff, which has changed the course of the industry.

With scarcely a breather, Merlyn was appointed to the first Cattlemen's Beef Board, the body established to administer the national checkoff. He and his pioneering colleagues were charged with the difficult task of developing all necessary operating structures. Not losing sight of home, Merlyn was later elected to the Nebraska Beef Council where he served for eight years, two as its chairman. Here Merlyn led efforts to build bridges of communication and cooperation with many organizations, the results of which benefit everyone.

Concurrently, Merlyn was building his beef industry involvement on a global scale. Not surprisingly, he rose as a leader in the U.S. Meat Export Federation, first as chairman of the Beef and Allied Industries Committee. He has been a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors and was recently elected vice chairman of the Federation.

Finally, as one considers major changes during Merlyn's career, one of the most revolutionary occurred in 1996 when the National Cattlemen's Beef Association was formed as a unified voice for the industry. Merlyn served on the Transition Executive Committee whose trailblazing efforts made the merger possible, then on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee in its first years of existence.

It would be unfair to leave the impression Merlyn has been singularly focused on the cattle industry. He has also served on the boards of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Rural Telephone Bank Board, an advisory board for the Small Business Administration, and numerous community organizations.

Merlyn Carlson has done many things. More important, he did many of them first. He has been an innovator, a true pioneer into the unknown where success was never a certainty. His record of leadership speaks for itself and will continue speaking for generations.