T9N · R6E · NEBRASKA
The land stays in
Nebraska hands.
A member-owned network preserving working farms and ranches across the state — from the section line to the supper table. Built by Nebraskans, for the generations who come next.
SEC. 01 — WHY NOW
Nebraska is entering its largest land transition in a generation. Where that ground goes is still ours to decide.
The numbers tell a clear story: an aging generation of owners, real financial pressure, and land values that make it hard for young producers to put down roots. None of it is cause for panic — but it is a moment that rewards planning. When a farm changes hands without a plan, the ground often leaves the community for good. The network exists to give Nebraska families a better option, on their own terms.
A generation of transition
The average U.S. farmer is 58, and the typical Nebraska landowner is closer to 67. Over the coming decade, a remarkable amount of ground will pass to the next stewards — the largest land transition in living memory.
USDA Census of Agriculture, 2022
Real financial pressure
Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies rose 29% in Nebraska in 2025, part of a national trend. It is a reminder that even strong operations are navigating a genuinely tough stretch.
U.S. Courts / American Farm Bureau, 2025
Land at record values
Nebraska farmland reached a record $4,080 per acre in 2024. That is good news for those holding ground — and a real hurdle for young producers hoping to buy in and build a future here.
UNL Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report
Costs to manage carefully
U.S. farm production expenses are near historic highs — roughly $473 billion. Inputs, equipment, and interest all ask more of an operation than they did just a few years ago.
USDA Economic Research Service, 2025
Keeping Nebraska land in Nebraska hands starts with a plan — and a conversation. Let’s talk about what the next chapter looks like for your operation.
Book a consultationSEC. 02 — THE MODEL
One network, the whole chain — owned closer to home.
Most of the value in agriculture leaves the farm gate. We keep more of it in Nebraska by connecting the land, the processing, and the market under one member-owned roof. Producers stay on the operation. Communities keep the jobs. Families keep the legacy.
01 / LAND
Working farms & ranches
Land contributed or partnered into the network stays in production, with the operator on it.
02 / PROCESS
On-ranch processing
Meat Pod modular, USDA-compliant processing units bring the value-add step back to the operation — more margin stays with the producer.
03 / MARKET
Local markets
Nebraska-raised food reaches Nebraska tables through a network of community markets.
SEC. 03 — FOR LANDOWNERS
Sell, or keep the legacy — without the tax cliff.
A traditional sale means a tax hit and watching the ground leave the family. A 1031 puts you on a 45-day clock to become a landlord somewhere else. There is another path.
Through a tax-deferred land contribution, you can transition out of day-to-day operations while keeping ownership value, preserving your legacy, and — if you choose — leasing the ground back and staying on the land. Heirs inherit a clean, divisible interest instead of a contested quarter-section.
Book a consultationLand transition strategies have tax and legal consequences. We coordinate with your CPA and attorney. Nothing here is tax or legal advice.
“If you pool resources together and have a driving force of people that have all of these awesome ideas and beautiful minds thinking every day for the betterment of production agriculture, that’s unstoppable.”
— Adam Grabenstein, Member · Eustis, NE
- Tax-deferred contribution as an alternative to sale or 1031
- Optional lease-back — stay on the operation
- Quick, certain closes
- Generational wealth and legacy preservation
SEC. 04 — ON-RANCH PROCESSING
Processing left rural Nebraska. We’re bringing it back.
Four packers control 85% of the U.S. beef supply. Producers capture just 14 cents of every retail dollar. The infrastructure to change that has been missing — until now.
Modular, USDA-compliant processing units sited on the operation shorten the supply chain dramatically. More of every animal’s value stays with the producer and the local economy — food traceable from pasture to package, and skilled jobs back in rural Nebraska communities.
The processing units powering this model. Purpose-built, self-contained, relocatable.
Learn more about Meat PodSEC. 05 — RANCH TO TABLE
Nebraska food, one drive-thru lane away.
A network of small-footprint community markets — supplied directly by the ranches and processing units in the network. Curated essentials, pre-ordered and ready, no aisles to wander. The shortest honest path from a Nebraska ranch to a Nebraska kitchen.
A drive-thru, pre-order farmers market built on direct relationships with Nebraska producers. Opening Q2 2027 in La Vista, Nebraska.
Learn more about NFN Farmers MarketFLAGSHIP
La Vista
Our anchor location on South 117th — drive-thru-first, stocked by the network.
FORMAT
Curated, not crowded
The essentials a household actually buys — meat, produce, dairy — done well.
SOURCE
From the network
Supplied by member ranches and on-ranch processing. Local by design, not by label.
SEC. 07 — THE NETWORK
Not Big Ag. Not Wall Street. Nebraska.
The network is invite-only and built on relationships — neighbors who know neighbors, across more than seventy counties. That trust is the asset no outside buyer can replicate, and it is why families bring us their land and their legacy in the first place.
Member-owned
Solutions built for producers, owned closer to the people they serve.
Relationship-first
We earn the conversation before we ever talk transaction.
Nebraska-rooted
Lincoln-based, statewide, and staying that way.
“If you care about agriculture, if you care about the future, you should care about Nebraska Farmers Network.”
— Dick Hollman, Member · Hallam, NE
SEC. 08 — FOR PARTNERS
For institutions and families who take the long view.
We work with institutions, family offices, and mission-aligned organizations who care about the future of working agricultural land in the Heartland — and who measure in generations, not quarters.
If that is how your organization thinks about land and legacy, we would like to know you. These conversations happen one relationship at a time.
START HERE
Start a conversation
No pitch. A conversation about Nebraska land, the network, and whether there is a fit.
Request an introductionSEC. 09 — LEADERSHIP
The people behind the network.
Nebraskans who know the land, the work, and the stakes — because they live them. Board and team members shown here; full bios available on request.
Team
Gabe Sanchez
Founder & President
Founded NFN to keep Nebraska land in Nebraska hands and build a member-owned alternative to outside ownership.
Lou Reynolds
CEO, NFN Farm Exchange
Brings deep agricultural market knowledge to NFN Farm Exchange, connecting Nebraska producers with direct buyers and building a transparent alternative to traditional real estate channels.
Nate Smith
State Director, NFN Auctions
Leads the network's machinery, equipment, and estate auction operations across the state.
Jillian Buell
Social Media & PR
Tells the stories of the network's members, markets, and mission across Nebraska.
Angie Sanchez
Office Manager & HR
Keeps the network running day to day and is often the first friendly voice members reach.
Board & Advisors
Justin Bennett
Chairman of the Board
Grew up in Fairbury, Nebraska and operates the family farming operation in rural Jefferson County. Provides governance and long-view leadership for the member-owned network.
Tim Correll
Vice Chairman
30-year livestock order buyer and managing partner at OC Cattle Brokers, conducting business across 14 states. Supports board strategy and the network's commitment to Nebraska producers.
Jason Lewis
Treasurer
PhD agronomist and corn farmer in Henderson, Nebraska. Oversees financial stewardship across the network's profit centers.
Paul Gangwish
Secretary
Farms 14,000 acres with PG Farms, Inc. and The Diamond G across Shelton and Springview, Nebraska. UNL agronomy graduate and Nebraska Corn Growers leader.
Dick Hollman
Advisory Council
Lifelong Angus seedstock producer near Hallam, Nebraska. Past President of the Nebraska Angus Association and Nebraska Classic Corporation.
Travis Wenzel
Advisory Council
Senior Territory Business Manager for Zoetis with 25+ years in cattle. Stocker operator in Arthur County and Army National Guard veteran with deep Nebraska ag and political networks.
Vern Terrell
Advisory Council
Diversified producer in Sheridan County operating Terrell Farms and Terrell Ranch. Serves on the National and Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalitions and is a Nebraska LEAD VIII alumnus.
SEC. 09 — START HERE
Book a consultation.
Two easy ways to begin: grab a time on the calendar for a direct conversation, or send a note and we’ll reach out. No pressure, no obligation — just a real conversation about your land and your options.
OPTION A
Schedule a call now
Pick a time that works for you and meet with the team directly.
OPTION B
Send us a note
Tell us what you’re here for and we’ll follow up to schedule.
Submissions are routed to the team. We respect your privacy and never share your information.