Dodge County applies for Livestock Friendly designation

Article by:  Fremont Tribune   |   Chris Zavadil

Dodge County officials hope to beef up economic development opportunities with a Livestock Friendly designation from the Nebraska Department of Economic Agriculture.

County Supervisors on Wednesday approved applying to the state for the official designation, which recognizes counties that actively support the livestock industry and assists counties and producers in promoting the industry.

Representatives of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska encouraged supervisors in July to pursue the declaration, pointing to it as a way to encourage livestock operations, and dairy cattle operations in particular, to locate in Dodge County. The economic development benefits would trickle into the rest of the county’s economy, they said.

The board was unanimous in its approval on Wednesday.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Chairman Bob Missel said. “I think it’s time we take credit for something we already are. As we move forward and try to entertain ideas, like bringing a dairy to Dodge County, this certainly would bode well for us.”

“I don’t see any down side to this,” Supervisor Gary Osborn added.

Crop producer Bill Taylor of Ames thanked the board for making the move, and pointed out that agriculture is already a major part of the county’s overall economy.

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