NFN About Us – Nebraska Farmers Netowrk

Keeping Nebraska Land, Nebraskan Owned

We are a private network of some of Nebraska's top farmers, ranchers, and business leaders. The problem we see is that outside investors are gaining access to our local farmland since farmers and ranchers are unable to turn a profit on it.

Nebraska Farmers Network solves this problem by, when a member of our elite network provides us with a land deal, we negotiate with the landowner to buy it and lease it back to that same member with favorable lease terms, ensuring the land stays in local hands and is protected from foreign and outside investors. NFN is dedicated to protecting, defending, and preserving Nebraska’s ag land for our hardworking farmers and ranchers of today and tomorrow.

Advisory Board of Directors

Justin Bennett

Chairman

Justin Bennett

Justin Bennett grew up in Fairbury, Nebraska. For is post-graduate education, Mr. Bennett attended Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska studying John Deere Parts and later at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska studying Business Administration.

Following college, Mr. Bennett moved back to Fairbury, where he was employed by the family business, Oregon Trail Equipment, which merged with Landmark Implement in 2015. Mr. Bennett currently resides in rural Jefferson County, working for his family farming operation.

Jason Lewis

Treasurer

Jason Lewis

Jason Lewis farms in Henderson, Nebraska growing corn and soybeans. After growing up in Kearney he attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln receiving a BS and MS in Horticulture before receiving a PhD from Kansas State University in Horticulture specializing in Turfgrass Science and Micrometeorology. Mr. Lewis was an associate professor at California Polytechnic State University- San Louis Obispo before returning to Nebraska to farm with his father-in-law.

Mr. Lewis is currently involved with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association as the State Representative for Hamilton County, and as the Vice Chair of the Research and Stewardship Committee. For the National Corn Growers Association, Mr. Lewis currently serves as Chair of the Sustainable Ag Research Action Team (SARAT). Locally Mr. Lewis serves on the Gallaway Creek Golf Course Board and chairs the City of Hendersons Planning Commission.

Tim Correll

Vice-Chairman

Tim Correll

Tim Correll is a native of Western Nebraska. Tim grew up in Sidney, Nebraska, and graduated from Sidney High School. Tim has spent the entirety of his professional life in the livestock industry, working in cow-calf operations, feeder-cattle operations, feedlot operations, and the livestock order-buying business. Nebraska ranching runs deep on both sides of Tim’s family, with his parents, grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins owning and operating ranches throughout the Nebraska Sandhills. For the past 30 years, Tim has been in business as a livestock order buyer.

Tim is one of two managing partners at OC Cattle Brokers, a Nebraska-based livestock order-buying operation that conducts business in 14 different states and produces average annual revenue in excess of $75 million.

Tim is a past president of the International Feedlot Cowboys Association as well as a board member of the Scotts Bluff County Rodeo Committee. Tim and his wife, Wendy, reside in Morrill, Nebraska. The couple has five children and four grandchildren.

Paul Gangwish

Secretary

Paul Gangwish

Paul comes from a long line of farmers who trace all the way back to Germany. He grew up in Shelton, Nebraska. In 1986, he graduated from UNL with a degree in agronomy and agricultural economics. During his years at Nebraska, he was on the UNL football team, coached by Dr. Tom Osborne. Paul and his wife Deb, children Trace and Hannah, Callie and Dalton, and a great team of employees farm about 14,000 acres with PG Farms, Inc. and The Diamond G.

PG Farms, Inc., located in Shelton, Nebraska, is a diverse operation consisting of crops, custom seed harvesting, and a trucking company. Corn, seed corn, and soybean crops are all grown under pivot irrigation. The seed corn harvest operation harvests seed corn for the Bayer production facility in Kearney, Nebraska. The trucking operation consists of 12 trucks hauling a mix of agricultural goods. Five trucks are dedicated to long-haul operations, specializing in oversize loads of agriculture and construction equipment.

The Diamond G is located in Springview, Nebraska, and consists of crops and cattle.

Crops grown include corn and soybeans, all under pivot irrigation, as well as grass hay and a variety of forage crops. The cattle operation consists of a backgrounding lot and a 1000-head cow/calf herd.

Paul is a Nebraska LEAD Alumni (Class 28), a TEPAP alumni, and he and his wife have been active in the Nebraska Corn Growers Association as well as the National Corn Growers Association. International agricultural travel and trade missions have given Paul a global perspective on the family farm.

Paul and his family strive to provide a workplace environment that is family-oriented and upholds a culture of respect, teamwork, flexibility, and finding fun in hard work.

Paul and Deb have five children and two grandchildren and are looking to add to the harvest crew with the addition of a soon-to-be third grandchild.

Gabe Sanchez

Founder

Gabe Sanchez

From 2008 to 2017, Mr. Sanchez held executive management positions such as District Area Director, Executive Sales Director, and State Director for a capital markets company in the Midwest. He served as a consultant for several companies as an advisor for increased sales and marketing production. Mr. Sanchez helped multiple start-up companies raise needed seed money & Series-A capital through a proven marketing plan that has raised over $50MM in capital. Mr. Sanchez was a Vice President of Sales in a Lincoln, Ne construction company from 2018 to 2021 where he helped grow the company 900% in revenue.

Mr. Sanchez's family farm was in Lincoln, NE since 1964. Despite his attempts to prevent the sale, his family sold their land to a developer in 2003. Since then, Mr. Sanchez has been committed to preserving Nebraska’s family farms.

With over 15 years of experience in capital markets, portfolio management, and business development, Mr. Sanchez brings a unique mix of business acumen to the farmland real estate industry.

“The farm is how we protect our family, the farm is how we protect our livelihood...a legacy, and we take pride in that."

-Gabe Sanchez

Advisory Council Members

Dick Hollman

Council Member

Dick Hollman

Dick Hollman lives near Hallam in Lancaster County Nebraska. Dick and His wife Sondra are life long Angus Seedstock Producers. They sell bulls and females with the Salt Creek Cattle Group on Big Iron, at the Nebraska Classic and private treaty. They have shown cattle at local county fairs and the Nebraska State Fair and National Western Stock Show. They have 4 mature daughters and 12 grandchildren.

Dick is a past 4H leader and still works with kids teaching them how to break, care for and show cattle. Dick is a past board member and past President of the Nebraska Angus Association, past board member of Nebraska Cattlemen. He is a current board member and past President of Nebraska Classic Corporation. He is a current board member and Secretary/Treasurer of the Hallam Rural Fire Protection District and a Trustee, Finance Chairman, and Staff Parish Relations Committee Chairman for the Martell United Methodist Church. Dick has helped many new cattle producers to start their own herd of quality cattle.

Travis Wenzel

Council Member

Travis Wenzel

Travis Wenzel lives in Arthur County Nebraska. Travis is a Senior Territory Business Manager for Zoetis, a position he has held for over 25 years. In this position Travis deals with all aspects of the cattle business.

Travis, his wife Kimberly and their four children, Gracie, Justin, Ava & Lucy own and operate a stocker business where they sell and buy back over 1200 head of calves a year. This includes finishing some cattle at commercial lots in Western, NE.

Travis is a veteran of the Army National Guard and serves as commander of American Legion Post 207 in Arthur, NE. He is an alum of the Nebraska LEAD 27. He has an extensive network in Nebraska in both politics and agriculture. Travis is a strong advocate for Agriculture and for the mission of Nebraska Farmer’s Network and he looks forward to helping to advance both.

NFN Team

Buddy Goodenkauf

Director of Business Development

Buddy Goodenkauf

William "Buddy" Goodenkauf has 10 years experience working in the healthcare operations industry. While serving as the director of oncology operations, he oversaw the implementation of a new multi-million dollar linear accelerator. He led the team that started the first multidisciplinary clinic for breast cancer in Lincoln, NE. He has also served as a director on community boards including the Nebraska Cancer Coalition and the Nebraska Cardiopulmonary Rehab Network.

Buddy completed his Masters in Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and he looks forward to bringing his knowledge and drive to the Nebraska Farmers Network.

Nate Smith

Business Development Representative

Nate Smith

Nate Smith lives in Hastings, Nebraska, with his wife Lisa. They have five adult children that all still live in Nebraska. Nate grew up in Sargent, NE in rural Custer County. He spent most of his early years working on farms and ranches.

Nate moved to Hastings, NE in 2002 where he dedicated over 12 years serving the residents of Adams Co working as a Deputy for the Adams County Sheriff's Office. He then transitioned into the insurance business in 2014 where he dealt mainly with people in rural Nebraska helping them with supplemental health insurance. While in the insurance industry he got experience in managing other sales managers and sales teams.

Nate and Lisa enjoy time with their children and time at Harlan Lake fishing and spending time outdoors. Nate is excited to move NFN forward with adding members to the network because he sees the future of Nebraska without the help of this organization to make sure that the land in this state stays locally owned and locally ran. He has a deep desire to make sure that rural family farms and ranches can prosper and continue from this generation to the next.

Jeff Boyd

Business Development Representative

Jeff Boyd

Jeff comes to NFN with over 16 years of excellence in sales and brand management. He has been instrumental to the growth and success of the previous companies he has worked for, due to his leadership skills, his will to succeed, and his ability to build strong long-lasting relationships.

He is a lifelong Nebraskan and proud to be a part of the NFN mission. Jeff resides in Hastings, NE with his wife Tenille and their two children (Joss & Bo). He enjoys spending time with friends & family and supporting the activities his kids are involved in. Jeff loves to travel with his friends and family while always making new friends along the way!

Jess Steinbrook

Executive Assistant

Jess Steinbrook

Jess Steinbrook is a dedicated executive assistant at the Nebraska Farmers Network, where she serves as the go-to person in charge of day-to-day operations. With a passion for the organization’s mission, she actively engages with NFN members, coordinates events, and manages member invites. A former stay-at-home mom, she has seamlessly transitioned back into the workforce and finds fulfillment in her role and the accomplishments of the company.

Outside of work, she is a proud mother of four—three daughters and one son—ages 19, 17, 13, and 9. She cherishes family time, enjoying games and activities together, and feels blessed to witness her children grow into their unique and amazing selves.

Michelle Mayfield

Director of Member Relations

Michelle Mayfield

Michelle Mayfield is an accomplished sales and marketing professional with extensive experience in the hospitality industry, having dedicated a significant part of her career to IHG and Hilton properties. As the Director of Member Relations at NFN, Michelle excels in building and nurturing relationships with members, understanding their motivations and aspirations, and keeping them informed about the network's growth and benefits. With a natural ability to connect with others and a talent for positivity and belief, Michelle is skilled in winning others over and fostering collaboration to enhance member experiences.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her husband Mike, and their two children, MaKena and Kai. An avid CUBS fan, Michelle shares a passion for cooking, golfing, hunting, and fishing, while also cherishing moments with family and friends spent watching the CUBS and Husker football. The family also includes two beloved pets, MoJo the Lhasa Poo and Doc the Yellow Lab, adding joy to their vibrant family life.

Keeping Nebraska Land, Nebraskan Owned

Advisory Board of Directors

Justin Bennett

Jason Lewis

Tim Correll

Paul Gangwish

Gabe Sanchez

Advisory Council Members

Dick Hollman

Travis Wenzel

NFN Team

Buddy Goodenkauf

Nate Smith

Jeff Boyd

Jess Steinbrook

Michelle Mayfield

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