Nebraska Cattlemen Disappointed by Tyson Foods' Beef Processing Plant Closure in Lexington

Lincoln, Neb. (November 21, 2025) –The Nebraska Cattlemen Board of Directors released the following statement in response to Tyson Foods’ announcement it will permanently close the beef processing plant in Lexington: 

TaraLee Hudson Named Director of Producer Relations and Engagement

Thayer County Native to Serve Nebraska Cattlemen Members

Lincoln, Neb. (November 20, 2025) – Nebraska Cattlemen is pleased to announce the hire of TaraLee Hudson as director of producer relations and engagement. A native of Thayer County, TaraLee grew up on a cow-calf and row crop operation where she remains actively involved. She holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and participated in the Krutsinger Beef Industry Scholars Program as an undergraduate. TaraLee is a past intern of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and was a recipient of the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation’s Beef State Scholarship. Set to graduate in December with a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from UNL, TaraLee’s primary research focus addresses fragmentation in the fed cattle market and its implications for price transparency and discovery.

Sawyer Willrett Begins Role as the Director of Member Services

Lincoln, Neb. (November 20, 2025) – Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) is proud to announce Sawyer Willrett as the director of member services. Originally from Malta, Illinois, Sawyer earned his B.S. in Agribusiness from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2024, where he was a Ruth Leverton Scholar and pursued minors in Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship and Krutsinger Beef Industry Scholars. Willrett previously interned in merchandising and procurement at Viserion Grain LLC and National Beef Packing Company LLC. Most recently, Willrett has been working on his family’s feedlot in Northern Illinois and serving on Illinois’s DeKalb-Kane Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors.

Nebraska Cattlemen Selects Young Cattlemen’s Connections Class of 2026

Eleven Emerging Leaders Chosen

Lincoln, Neb. (November 18, 2025) – Nebraska Cattlemen is pleased to announce the Young Cattlemen’s Connections (YCC) Class of 2026. The selection committee chose eleven emerging leaders for the prestigious two-year program to help these participants develop a solid foundation of industry knowledge and to strengthen the future of Nebraska’s beef industry.