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Let’s hear the story of Nebraska, its communities, its number one industry Agriculture, and the people who make it happen. Sponsored by Nebraska's Law Firm® - Rembolt Ludtke.
93
Weston Svoboda--Rancher + Lawyer + Nebraskan
In this episode we sit down with Weston Svoboda, a native of the Burwell area where his family ranches and farms and to which he plans to return. Weston graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in May 2025 and was sworn in to the Nebraska bar in September 2025. Weston discusses his passion for both agriculture and the law and the unique path he has chosen to continue in production agriculture while practicing law at Rembolt Ludtke.
Nebraska, it's not just a place, but a way of life. It's 93 counties that are home to innovative individuals, caring community, and a spirit that runs deeper than its purple story. It's a story that should be told. Welcome to 93, the podcast.
SPEAKER_01:Welcome to 93, the podcast, where we talk about Nebraska, its great communities, its number one industry agriculture, and the people who make it happen. I'm Mark Folson, your host for today's episode, brought to you by Nebraska's law firm, Rembolt Lutti. Today's guest is a fifth generation agriculturalist from Burwell, Nebraska. He not only works day-to-day on his family's ranch, but he's now a licensed attorney practicing with Rembolt Lutti and focusing his practice on helping farm and ranch families with estate planning in generational transitions. We'll talk with him about his unique path, the challenges facing producers, and how he's bridging the worlds of ranching and the law. Wesson Swoboda, welcome to the podcast. Give our listeners a little background on yourself.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, Mark. Well, thanks so much for having me on. I definitely enjoy listening to the podcast. So uh excited, excited to be on. Um, my background uh all starts with uh roots in small town central Nebraska. So I call Burwell, Nebraska home, but uh really kind of a three-county area there uh where we have roots in Garfield, Custer, and Valley counties.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I get credit for all three. What are the license point prefixes in those counties?
SPEAKER_02:There we go. We got 83, 4, and 47. Bingo. Right on, right on. So yes, uh definitely uh that's where I got my foundation, grew up on a family farming ranching operation out there. So um definitely got that work ethic early on, um, you know, long days um there on the family ranch. And then um that took me on to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. I've always been a Cornhusker fan, so it was really exciting to go to the home state uh school where I went for an ag economics degree as part of the three plus three program, uh, which then led me on to law school.
SPEAKER_01:What is that program?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, so the three plus three program essentially allows you to take what would normally be a seven-year program, four years of undergrad, three years of law school, and condense that down into six years. So basically your one L year of law school, uh, they allow you to count that as uh as some of those credits for your undergraduate degrees.
SPEAKER_01:So you recently passed the Nebraska bar exam and were sworn in as a lawyer, is that right?
SPEAKER_02:That is right. Yes, uh a sigh of relief, no doubt.
SPEAKER_01:Aaron Powell What's harder than the bar exam or pulling a calf?
SPEAKER_02:Oh, the bar exam by by by a long ways. By a long ways.
SPEAKER_01:So explain explain for folks how much you had to study. I mean, it's common, but uh what what type of studying goes into for the uh to get ready for the bar exam?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, so for that bar exam, you know, you graduate uh law school in May essentially and and take the the bar at the end of July. So there from May to July, uh you're putting in for the most part at least eight hour days uh studying and going through that bar preparation course. And so then for me that included uh a few breaks to go uh move yearlings around to.
SPEAKER_01:So how many days is the bar exam?
SPEAKER_02:Uh two days, two uh essentially eight-hour days.
SPEAKER_01:Um so and is the test uh is it essay, multiple choice? What's the how what's the structure?
SPEAKER_02:Right. So there's essentially three components within it. There's one day that is writing, and that's kind of split out into uh two different sections. You've got the essay exam, so uh six essays, I believe it is, and then you have the MPT, they call it, which is um more of practical applying skills. So you might be writing a memo or uh something along those lines. So essentially um you don't have to know much law for that part, but you're actually applying practical skills. So that's uh day one is that written portion, and then the second day, 200 multiple choice questions headed your way. And they're not uh like what I would consider uh softball multiple choice questions, if you will. They're um very detailed fact patterns, and um, you know, the the answers on those, there's two yes, two no, and it but it's the because part that is what gets you tripped up for sure.
SPEAKER_01:So going back to high school, were you involved in 4-H and FFA?
SPEAKER_02:I was, yeah. Those those were a couple organizations that were really near and dear to me and and gave me a good skill set and set me up for for future success. So I started showing uh cattle and horses uh as early as I could within the 4-H program. And then uh as I came into high school, uh, that was something that I was just so excited for was the opportunity to wear that blue corduroy jacket for the for the FFA. Uh, you know, it's something that I looked up to a lot of those um, you know, chapter leaders within within our school. And so it was really exciting for me to to step in and be a part of that organization. And it really gave me a sense of belonging, if you will, um, you know, and and on top of teaching me those practical skills as well as as leadership skills. So uh was very involved in the in the FFA uh during my high school years with the Burwell FFA chapter, and then had the honor to serve as a Nebraska FFA state officer on the 2019-2020 team. So that gave me the chance to go all across the state and just connect with students uh and see so many different perspectives, uh, but to see them all kind of come together for a common cause, which was really cool.
SPEAKER_01:Does that include connecting with a future wife?
SPEAKER_02:It does. It does, yes. Uh so uh my wife is Shelby Saboda, she is from the Dyersville, Iowa area area, actually. Uh so grew up on a small diversified family farm over there. And we ended up uh, she was a state officer in Iowa when I was in Nebraska, and we ended up on a bus together headed to DC to talk about uh ag issues. And so that was that was the start of it all right there.
SPEAKER_01:Uh and does two soon soon become three?
SPEAKER_02:It does, it does. So really looking forward to to welcoming what will be actually the sixth generation of our family operation. That'll be coming in November. So we're we're really excited about that. Um, we know big changes uh for sure as far as life goes, but we just couldn't be more excited.
SPEAKER_01:So you're working out of the Rembolt-Lincoln office right now, but at some point are you going to transition back to Burwell?
SPEAKER_02:That's the idea, yes. Uh Central Nebraska has always had my heart, and uh staying involved in production agriculture was certainly uh priority number one for me. Uh so then when I was seeking, you know, how do we bridge that gap, you know, I obviously went to law school and and want to bring a value-added skill back to the community, but still want to be able to stay involved in production ag in the day-to-day. So I was just super fortunate to uh, you know, make the connection with Rembolt as I clerked here for two years throughout law school. And then uh your guys' willingness to work with me on that and allow me that opportunity to go back to the place I love, the place I call home, and to, you know, to still uh practice law while staying involved in production agriculture. That's exactly what I was looking for. And I just couldn't be more excited to do it with a great group of people.
SPEAKER_01:How do you think you'll be able to use the your law degree and now your law license in helping farmers and ranchers in Nebraska?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I think that uh that skill set that you learn in law school just meshes so well with the practical, day-to-day lived experience of growing up on a family ranch. You know, I've seen that play out just in the ability to talk to folks, right? As as people come in and sit down to talk about whether it's farm and ranch succession planning or business structure, just that ability to meet them where they're at and understand uh the nuts and bolts of their operation, and then to put that into uh a legal work has been something that's been really valuable. You know, I joke with people sometimes, it's kind of that ability to uh skip the first 15, 20 minutes of the conversation where you have to explain what a pivot is or the difference between a cow calf and a yearling operation. You know, having that background in production ag lets us skip that part because we're already on the same plane, right?
SPEAKER_01:And do you think there's a need for folks to be able to provide competent legal advice who also have an ag background?
SPEAKER_02:Oh, there's a huge need for it. I mean, monumental need. Uh, and I think that most uh production agriculturalists will will tell you that. Uh and beyond that, you know, the Nebraska State Bar always has this map that they show, which there's essentially a whole, illegal desert, uh kind of out in the middle of the state. And, you know, that's where a lot of a lot of our production ag is happening. And so there's certainly a need for legal professionals out there who know and understand the day-to-day challenges that those operations face. So I'm really excited about uh trying to bridge that gap and and just being a part of finding a solution there.
SPEAKER_01:Are you gonna be one of the lawyers that goes into court or are you what I'll call a sit-down lawyer drafting documents, wills, estates, things like that?
SPEAKER_02:Definitely leaning more towards the transactional side of things, which I think has a lot to do with, you know, having a busy, busy schedule on the ranch uh as a transactional attorney, gonna have the ability to maybe have uh at least a little bit more control over schedule that way. Um, but you know, that's something that I think that I've really come to appreciate about being part of a firm like Rembolt is having folks who who do want to take on that litigation because it certainly takes uh both sides of that coin to really have a successful and and full representation for somebody, no matter what they're gonna face. So I've really appreciated uh being able to see kind of both sides of that coin. And while I know that the transactional work is probably where I'll fall, I just have such an appreciation for the people who do want to take on that litigation.
SPEAKER_01:What do you see as the biggest challenges facing Nebraska Egg?
SPEAKER_02:Well, uh as the succession planning attorney, I'm I gotta go that direction, I would say, right? Uh but but truly, the that ability to pass on family farms and ranches from one generation to the next, and to do that successfully and seamlessly is something that's gonna be imperative to our ability to continue as a as an industry. So, you know, there's a lot of subtopics essentially that that kind of flow into that. Uh there's many policy topics, and taxation is one that comes up specifically under there uh quite a bit. But as an overarching topic, I would say it's that succession planning is going to be critical. And, you know, another subtopic that falls right under there is essentially recruitment, uh recruiting our kids back to those family operations. You know, and I know that that's something that our our leaders talk a lot about is um, you know, we got we have to retain that talent. We have to, you know, because there is a lot of talent out there. Uh Nebraska Farm and Ranch kids are extremely talented. They're hardworking, they've seen a lot, they have a lot of experiences. And so I think it's it's really imperative that we, you know, paint that job and uh paint that opportunity to come back to the farmer ranch as an opportunity worth taking. So all of that falls under the succession planning umbrella, I would say, which to me is is the number one uh challenge that we're gonna face.
SPEAKER_01:As a cattle producer, do you feel like you have some special insight to offer when it comes to drafting ranch leases, farm leases, things of that nature?
SPEAKER_02:I do. I think just understanding uh the nuts and bolts of how those things work is gonna be something that I can bring some value to the table, whether that's, you know, just down to the to the very basics of how we structure those deals, right? You know, are we leasing on a per head per day basis? Are we releasing on a flat rate for the season basis, right? Or and even down into the, all right, now we're we're leasing, you know, maybe a a piece of irrigated ground, right? Are the corn stocks included in that or not? You know? So just some of those uh very baseline things, uh, I think that it having that background will be really valuable as we start to talk about, you know, how to structure some of these deals. And um, you know, I'm I'm absolutely in tune with the you know the current rental rates, right? Because that's something I deal with day to day on the on the back end of our business.
SPEAKER_01:So I think it's great that you are uh returning home. What what can we do in Nebraska to get more kids to uh maybe leave for a while and then you know get an education, maybe that first job, but then decide to come back and return to their rural communities to give back and help them continue to thrive. Any thoughts on that?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I think it's a it's a phenomenal question and and certainly one that um we need to put more thought towards. But for me, it all starts in the way we paint the picture, right? The way we describe that opportunity uh to me has to really come through in a very positive light, right? Because you hear so often, oh gosh, you need to go get go get a career somewhere off farm. You don't, you don't want to do this every day, sun up to sundown, right? That's a narrative that I think that we hear occasionally, uh which to me is somewhat uh prohibitive of getting getting that next generation back. And not that we need to sugarcoat it by any means, right? It is hard, hard work. But that opportunity to to live that lifestyle and to come back to the to the family farm or ranch, that's a really exciting opportunity, and I think we need to describe it as such.
SPEAKER_01:What was your favorite class in law school?
SPEAKER_02:You know, to tell you the truth, my my favorite class uh in law school was probably farm and ranch tax. And I don't just say that uh just because uh our good friend Tim Mall was the professor there, but it will it really was probably the most practical class that I I took in terms of being able to take that information and apply it um to the things that I'm gonna do on a day-to-day basis. But I would also throw out uh another class that I really enjoyed that I don't plan on on doing too much of was torts. So just the the structure of the way that the tort system works and being able to wrestle with those problems.
SPEAKER_01:Is it a tort like a French pastry board? Well, what is it where it's a personal entry, right?
SPEAKER_02:Right, right. So um, yeah, we we getting down to those those elements, see if I can remember them, right? Duty breach, cause, proximate cause, damages, um, those kind of things. But uh yeah, it's really interesting to see the way that that has worked, how the way that the the common law essentially has evolved to to handle those disputes. And it was something that I I just enjoyed wrestling with those problems. It was good exercise for the brain, I would say.
SPEAKER_01:So you haven't fully transitioned back to Birdwell. What do you anticipate an average day will be for you like as far as the practice of law versus being involved in production egg?
SPEAKER_02:Sure. Well, I I certainly see it being to some extent seasonal, right? We obviously have uh times of the year that are busier than others uh for us. We're um primarily a yearling operation back home. So there's there's certainly those times as we get geared up to go to grass or you know, during during shipping, uh, those are you know some times that are that are really busy. So I anticipate it being somewhat seasonal, but um, you know, on the day to day, I think it's gonna be uh just a matter of finding that balance. You know, in in my perfect world, you know, it's sitting down and talking with other farmers and ranchers and and helping them to solve those problems. How do we get that farmer ranch to the next generation? You know, how do we set up this entity correctly so that it it works within the context of what you're trying to do? So that doesn't necessarily answer you uh the day-to-day, but I think that it it's going to ebb and flow uh as the work back home uh comes in.
SPEAKER_01:So explain what a yearling operation is to someone who has not been involved in the cattle industry.
SPEAKER_02:Sure. So the the yearling uh operation to to some extent is what I would call the the shock absorber of the cattle industry, right? So a majority of cattle in this country are born uh in the spring months, uh, you know, February, March, April. Um, but we need a a year-round supply of beef, right? So uh a yearling operation, like for us, we're we're getting those cattle in as essentially uh five weights in the fall. We're gonna background them through the winter, run them through a backgrounding program, and then uh take them to grass in in April. And uh that the idea being to have essentially a thousand-pound green steer to sell in July. So uh that allows us to kind of spread that supply of cattle out throughout the year. And and the yearling operation also helps to uh really develop those cattle into cattle that are ready to go uh hit the feed yard, right? We've got a lot of big feed yards in Nebraska uh who want, you know, load lots of of cattle who are ready to hit the bunk and have minimal problems. And you know, that yearling operation, it gives us a chance to put some frame on them, but also as they get older, uh we can kind of decrease the amount of problems uh that they might have as they go to the feed yard. So create big, big groups of cattle that are ready to hit the bunk and go to work for the feeder.
SPEAKER_01:So with cattle prices, what they are, I'm surprised you even want to practice law.
SPEAKER_02:Uh I think that uh it's important to know what what goes up must come down at some point. But uh certainly, certainly a time to enjoy these cattle prices uh where they're at. You know, I think that there's a lot of producers. It it's good to see uh kind of producers being able to reap some of those rewards because there have been tough years, right? There's a lot of family operations who uh it was blood, sweat, and tears to make it to make it through to these good times. So uh congratulations to those who have stuck it out and made it and are enjoying these these prices now. But I think it's prudent for for all of us to you know kind of have the head on a swivel, right? We we gotta know uh where the market is going. You know, we can't can't just rest on the laurels of today. Kind of got to have the foresight to to continue to plan and and continue to put ourselves in a position for success uh even when these prices do someday go down.
SPEAKER_01:So what's your understanding as to why cattle prices are at historic all-time highs?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I think that uh a lot of that uh you have to kind of look back into the the last five years that we've had, right? Um certainly the drought uh that happened in the early 2020s is is something that you know you can't you can't ignore. Um that that drought and that in combination with COVID and the the market, the way the market moved during COVID, those were two events that certainly primed us up to be in a situation we are now where we're at at record low cow numbers. Um so I think that that is certainly uh, you know, we can't we can't just ignore what has happened the last five years between the drought and the market and all of that. But I think that another conversation uh to be had there is is just um you know, the cow calf segment of the industry, it requires work. You know, it's it's not just uh an easy coast along uh thing. And so with that rising average age of the rancher, I think that there's um you know more and more people maybe leaving that uh that cow calf uh segment. And you you also have to think that for every person that leaves the cow calf segment, many of those uh Least people who are who own grassland, a lot of times that is kind of a double whammy because in many cases they're getting out of the cow business and they're becoming a yearling buyer, right? So now not only have we decreased supply, we've increased demand for those calves. So uh some of that uh certain certainly plays into it as well. But I think that, you know, for every challenge and hardship, there's also an opportunity, you know, and I think that that's a place where, you know, for for young folks who are who are willing to work and uh who want uh some mentorship, you know, there's a lot of of really good mentors out there who uh you know are willing to work with you because the the difficulty for a young person to get into that segment is capital, right? It's capital intense. There's just no doubt about it between, you know, high-priced females and and the grass that it takes to be able to run a cow calf operation. Certainly the capital is the challenge, but I think that there's a real opportunity there for maybe uh some of our aging ranchers who do have the capital to partner with uh people who are young and hungry and want to work, uh, you know, there I think there's a natural partnership there that can happen uh, you know, to kind of carry on the cow business here in Nebraska.
SPEAKER_01:So in addition to a law practice, in addition to being involved in production ag, in addition to being a husband and soon to be father, what what other ag or other organizations are you involved in or giving back to?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I think advocacy is is so incredibly important for us. You know, we can you know get the day-to-day on the family operation dialed in, and the the reality is there's a lot of big moving factors that happen on a on a state level, on a national level, and even on a global level, right? So I think that advocacy is incredibly important, and and we're lucky here in Nebraska to have some organizations that are uh, you know, very active and and very proactive in their approach to you know advocating on behalf of farmers and ranchers. And one of those uh that comes to mind that I'm fairly involved in is the Nebraska Cattlemens. Uh, you know, they're a great organization, goes to bat on behalf of ranchers and cattlemen across the state. Uh had the good fortune to uh be the Beef State Scholar a couple years ago, which was was quite the honor. So that's an organization that I really enjoy giving back to and that I look forward to staying heavily involved in through the future. And I guess parallel to that, the Nebraska Farm Bureau is an organization that I was involved in fairly heavily in college. Uh did the UNL Collegiate Discussion Meet, a chance to sit down and talk about ag issues with folks. So um, those two are a couple organizations that I have uh you know really tried to stay involved with and uh and look forward to staying heavily involved with as as we move forward, because I I know that uh advocacy is incredibly important.
SPEAKER_01:So although you'll be headquartered in the Burwell area, uh do you have any problem traveling across the state to visit with clients and potential clients?
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely not. It's it's one of my favorite things to do. That's uh I I love going from corner to corner of this state just because it it is so unique in the way that it changes, you know, from from one end to the other, right? I mean, when you start talking about the difference between, you know, whether it's Chadron and Nebraska City, right? Or, you know, kind of the other way, you know, West Point to Scotts Bluff, you know, those uh those the differences across the state are incredible. And I really enjoy getting out and traveling and seeing the different um the different things that the state has to offer and and seeing the differences in in its people as well.
SPEAKER_01:So if someone is uh perhaps interviewing, wants to hire a new attorney for their estate, some succession planning, whatever it may be, and they're involved in agriculture, what types of questions would you encourage them to ask?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I think the background question is certainly certainly a good place to start. You know, what is what is your involvement? Do you understand, do you understand the business, right? Because I think that that certainly uh you know leads to uh being able to to successfully represent somebody. But beyond that, I think just understanding the capabilities that their firm or their organization has is incredibly important as well, right? Uh and that's you know, not to take anything uh away from uh you know small, smaller practices because there's certainly a place for them as well throughout the state. But, you know, one thing that I think that really sets Rembolt apart, like I said, is our ability to kind of handle each of those different areas uh of the law and to have somebody who is an expert in that area, you know, and that's a place where you know I always like to highlight when when folks are talking to us about um potentially you know engaging us to do some legal work for them, I really like highlighting our ag practice group. So for those who don't know, our here at Rembolt, we have an ag practice group and it encompasses attorneys from all different uh all different uh areas of of practice. So whether that's you know Mark doing employment, whether that's you know Jane doing domestic relations, whether that's Anthony and Tim Mall and Spencer, you know, on the more transactional side. We just have uh people from all these different practice areas, but that all come together to understand and talk about agriculture. And I think that that's something that really sets us up in a in a unique place to be able to meet all those needs. And uh I just can't talk highly enough about that group, that ag practice group. It's something that certainly drew me here to this firm, and it's something that I think is an incredible asset for for anybody who is is a client of Rimbold Ludke.
SPEAKER_01:Where is your ranch, your headquarters from Burwell?
SPEAKER_02:So the the ranch headquarters are actually uh closer to Westerville, Nebraska would be the the closest place, I would say. Um so uh it gets to be about 45 minutes actually south of of Burwell. Uh you go would go over to Taylor down 183 and then uh just off 183, and then uh we also have a ranch there at uh at Sgt. Nebraska as well. So uh the the ranches uh I would say the best way to describe them is basically on the uh the east side of the road going down 183 from from Taylor to Ansley is where they are.
SPEAKER_01:Have you been to the Burwell Rodeo?
SPEAKER_02:Oh man, as long as I can remember, even uh when I was really young, that was something that I looked forward to every year, uh the chance to just go and and to see the the mass amounts of people to come through there. And then that was something that got even more special to me as I got into high school and was just a member of the Burwell community. It's it's amazing to see how that event draws people together. Uh how much how much life it brings to the town, how much uh excitement it brings to the people. Uh it's really an incredible event, and it takes it takes a lot to pull an event of that size and scale uh off. So uh really, you know, props to all the people who are involved in it, and it really is a full community effort.
SPEAKER_01:So describe if you're looking out off your porch, your front door from your house up by Burwell, uh what what what the view looks like. What uh what would people see who perhaps again haven't been there?
SPEAKER_02:Uh pretty, pretty fortunate to have a nice view off the front porch there at Burwell. Uh we uh have a have a little fishing pond there, the river runs right by. So Which river? That would be actually the North Loop River. So it is right where we are about a mile downriver from where the North Loop and the Calamus Rivers meet. So at that point it it becomes the the North Loop is what actually uh runs by our place there. But yeah, certainly makes uh a beautiful view to sit and watch watch the sunset out there.
SPEAKER_01:Do you think there's gonna be days in the winter when it gets Nebraska cold that you may say, I think I'm gonna go be lawyer today as opposed to uh you know rancher?
SPEAKER_02:I would say that that is that there's a fair likelihood that uh that some of that could happen. But uh, you know, at the same time, uh that's part of that's part of the job when when you're a Nebraska farmer or rancher, you take the take the good days and the bad, right? And uh so it's it's a place where, yeah, I certainly look forward to uh you know taking some of those winter days. The reality of that back to kind of the seasonal thing is that I think that'll be a time when uh a lot of farmers maybe have the opportunity to to sit down and and meet. Um so you know I'm gonna go that direction and say say it's more the seasonal aspect than me not wanting to be out in the cold. But uh you you know, there's there's elements of both.
SPEAKER_01:So growing up on the farmer ranch, what how how young were you when you first hopped in a truck or a tractor and drove it yourself?
SPEAKER_02:Well, gosh, I I would say uh even st we got to start a little earlier than that because for me it would have it would have been horses first, right? So um, you know, there's a lot of pictures uh of me uh on horses with my parents before before I could walk. And then I was uh I was probably four years old when I got my my own horse uh for the first time. And so that was that was where that all started. As far as uh driving driving a tractor, it would be it would be tough for me to say. It would it would be tough for me to say when that actually when I got turned turned loose on that day.
SPEAKER_01:I'm sure the statue of limitations is run on that.
SPEAKER_02:Right, right. Uh yeah, exactly. So no, but uh but the horse side of things was something that uh started riding at a at a very young age. And uh, you know, the joke we always talk about out there, you know, we're just sandy enough there. Uh while I did uh learn how to ride a horse at a very young age, I probably didn't know how to ride a bike until like fifth or sixth grade because it's so sandy, you know, nowhere, nowhere out there to uh to really ride that isn't uh in the sand. So um yeah, while I while I was able to ride a horse early, I I will say I probably could drive a tractor before I could ride a bike.
SPEAKER_01:So what's the m most physically demanding or rigorous task or chore that you have ever had to perform on your ranch?
SPEAKER_02:You know, I would have to I would have to go with calving season, uh, and that's just because uh I mean, you're you're sleep deprived sometimes, you know, for for us, you know, when I was growing up, we had some seed stock as well. So you're calving earlier in the year, and then uh even now as I've transitioned back home, you know, Kevin Heifers in in March last year, you know, that was something, you know, you're up pretty much every two hours doing night checks. So uh you take that and you multiply it over the course of a month, and that gets to be fairly physically demanding, you know, not necessarily from a strength or uh speed perspective, but just from a pure endurance perspective.
SPEAKER_01:Do you think they'll ever create a TV show about you where you're the the you're the rancher lawyer and you're in the pickup and you're off to go save or you know promote justice somewhere?
SPEAKER_02:You know, I I don't know. I don't I don't think so. Uh while I enjoy watching uh watching all of those shows, uh, I don't think I would I would be the guy to uh to star in one of those. And what would you call the show?
unknown:Oh gosh.
SPEAKER_02:I don't know. I'd have I would sure have to think about it, but you know, that is a place where uh in in reality, I do want to take a minute there just to give some some credit to the to the folks back home because I certainly wouldn't have the ability to do what I do and and flex between law and ranching without uh a good crew back home. So those guys uh in it day to day and just a lot of appreciation for for the people back home and the the mentors I have there. Uh I wouldn't be able to do what I do without the people there.
SPEAKER_01:So, Weston, I've asked you this on another episode, but I'm gonna ask you again. We ask all of our guests this question. You get one word. What is the one word that to you best describes the state in which you were born and raised, where you attended the University of Nebraska, uh Lincoln, as well as the College of Law, and where you are now a member of the Nebraska Bar, an attorney at Rumbold Luttee, and soon moving home to Burwell to practice law and ranch. What's your one word for Nebraska?
SPEAKER_02:It's gotta be grit. Grit is the word that comes to mind. I don't know if you've had uh other guests who have who have gone that direction, but man, when I think of this this state, I think of of people who aren't afraid to work, uh people who are who are gonna go from sunup to sundown to to do what's right, you know, to to uh keep the faith, to to live uh lives of meaning, right? And that has that has a little bit of a different meaning to each and every one of us. But when I think of this state, I think uh of people who have the grit to persevere through really tough times, uh, who have the ability to enjoy the good times, but uh just that that grit, that ability to to work hard, to stand for something, uh, and to you know not back down from your values no matter what. Uh that's what I think of when I think of Nebraska.
SPEAKER_01:So, Weston, congrats on becoming a lawyer. You're gonna have a great career, very bright future ahead of you. If you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing on Apple, Spotify, or wherever it is you get your favorite podcast, and be certain to share it with someone who might find it of interest. And please keep on listening as we release additional episodes on Nebraska, its great communities, Nebraska's number one industry agriculture, and the folks who make it happen.
SPEAKER_00:Thanks. This has been Nighty Three, the Podcast, sponsored by Nebraska's law firm, Rembolt Ludke.
