First while farming and later through other career opportunities, Larry emerged as a passionate advocate for agriculture. Known for sharing his voice, defending perspectives, and asking challenging questions, Larry’s remarkable professional career promoted advanced agricultural products and producers. He served as Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture initiating agriculture trade missions to promote selling Nebraska products. As Vice President of International Sales for Sand Livestock, he fostered relationships in international markets. Additionally, Larry served as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association promoting pork products and protecting pork producers’ interests by monitoring regulations, influencing policy and legislation.
Larry’s honors include The Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award; LEAD Alumni of the Year; National Agri-Marketing Association National Award for Public Service; Nebraska Agribusiness Club Public Service to Agriculture Award; Nebraska Corn Board Outstanding Leadership & Service as Chairman Awards; Nebraska Diplomats Power in the Partnership Award; Nebraska Investment Finance Authority Exemplary Service Award; Nebraska Rural Development Commission Award for Public Service; Triumph of Agriculture Exposition Special Agricultural Tribute Award; and, upon retirement, having the Nebraska Pork Producers Association establish the “Youth in Nebraska Agriculture Scholarship” in his name.
March 25, 2022
Larry E. Sitzman is committed to his family, his faith, and his community. He also is passionate about agriculture and dedicated to public service. His remarkable career has encompassed farming and exceptional leadership in state government, the private agri-business sector and in a not-for-profit agriculture association.
Larry learned patriotism, service to the country, and respect for our leaders from his parents who farmed near Culbertson, NE. While in high school he heard John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” That address increased his desire to serve. Larry provided service to our country in Vietnam while working as a C.I.D (Criminal Investigation Division) agent in the U.S. Army. His total Army service spanned 1969 to 1972.
Following his military service, Larry returned to Nebraska and farmed for 20 years on his family’s diversified farm near Culbertson, NE. There he raised cattle, corn, soybeans, dry edible beans, alfalfa, wheat, and eco-fallow sorghum. The foundation of Larry’s success began with his years of dedication and servitude to agriculture in Nebraska—farming is the architecture of his existence, the scaffolding of his soul.
First while farming and later through other career opportunities, Larry emerged as a passionate advocate for agriculture. He enhanced his leadership skills through participation in the LEAD III class. Larry has the uncanny ability to lead a group by asking the right, thought-provoking questions. He demonstrates a no-nonsense approach to problem-solving while seeking to understand the past and keeping his vision toward the future. He is trustworthy, fair, open-minded, and is an excellent listener, fathering the facts and thinking through the information before acting.
Larry does not force his opinion on you, instead of challenges you to make the right decision and is always available to help. He is known for sharing his voice, defending perspectives, and asking challenging questions. Larry is always willing to share his experiences and knowledge. He also presents clear perspectives to consider, including other perspectives he has witnessed. This unique combination of leadership differentiates Larry from others. If knowledge is power, then relationships are king. Cultivating relationships is his strongest attribute.
Larry’s service and contributions to Nebraska agriculture are vast, ranging from years spent on the farm, being directly involved in production agriculture, to years serving as a member or holding leadership positions for various boards, organizations, and foundations whose missions were related to production agriculture. These include Agriculture Council of America – Chairman, 2 years; FoodWatch – Chairman, 2 years; Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Chairman, 2 years; Nebraska Corn Board, Chairman, 2 years; Midwest Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Chairman, 2 years; Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council, Chairman 2 years, US. Feeds Grain Council, officer; Bank of Clatonia, Director; Nebraska Environmental Trust, Director; Nebraska Rural Radio Foundation, Director; Nebraska Ag Relations Council, member; Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, member; LEAD III, fellow; National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, member; Nebraska Agribusiness Club, member; Nebraska Hall of Agriculture Achievement, member and US Meat Export Federation, member.
In addition to his volunteer services to Nebraska agriculture and Nebraska agribusiness, Larry built a distinguished professional career promoting and advancing agricultural products and producers in our state. He served eight years as Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture—initiated agricultural trade missions to promote the sale of Nebraska products overseas. He also was a strong advocate and spokesman for agriculture, constantly seeking public policies that benefited Nebraska producers. As Vice President of International Sales for Sand Livestock, he conducted business and fostered relationships in international markets. He served later as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association where he promoted pork products and worked to protect the interest of all pork producers monitoring regulations and influencing policy and legislation.
One of the most admired attributes about Larry was that throughout his career he always went out of his way to encourage young people to consider careers in agriculture. His passion and dedication to providing a positive view of a successful future in any career within agriculture gave many young people the incentive to stay or become engaged in the profession. To honor Larry’s dedication and life-long leadership in the service of agriculture in Nebraska, upon retirement the Nebraska Pork Producers Association created a scholarship to financially assist young people to attend college with a focus on starting a career in agriculture.
Throughout the years, Larry has been recognized for his go-give spirit. These include the Nebraska Ag Relationships Council Award of Recognition, Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award, LEAD Alumni of the Year, National Agri-Marketing Association State Award for Public Service, Nebraska Agribusiness Club Public Service to Agriculture Award, Nebraska Corn Board Outstanding Leadership and Service as Chairman Award, Nebraska Diplomats Power in the Partnership Award, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority Exemplary Service Award, Nebraska Rural Development Commission Award for Public Service, Triumph of Agriculture Exposition Special Agricultural Tribute Award; and an Admiral for the Great Navy of Nebraska by Governor Bob Kerrey and Governor Ben Nelson.
Other past and present memberships include Culbertson Adam Miller American Legion Post; Culbertson VFW Post 6219; Farmers Co-Op of Culbertson, Trenton, and Stratton, Frenchman Valley Co-Op of Imperial; Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association, Theta Chi Fraternity and a 52-year member of the United Methodist Church of Culbertson.
Agriculture has been Larry’s passion and his life's work. He provided service in various forms and from different leadership positions. In retirement, he continues to use his skills to help others as he has made a major commitment to volunteering to help veterans in need of assistance at the Veterans Administration in Lincoln.
Larry and his wife, Sally have three sons—Eddie, Eric, and Jason along with seven grandchildren.
