Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around gratitude, spending time with family, and eating lots of good food. I would like to take this time to say thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative in the Nebraska Legislature for the past 8 years. I so appreciate those of you who have supported me and made this an awesome experience and having the opportunity to make Nebraska a better place to call home. I would also like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. May you eat lots of good food and enjoy time with family and friends.

Governor Jim Pillen declared Thursday, November 7th as Nebraska Winter Weather Awareness Day. “Winters in Nebraska are known for being unpredictable. Just think back to January, and the impact that mounting snow, blizzards, and cold had on travel, businesses, and ag operations across our state,” said Governor Pillen. “When severe weather strikes, a little preparation can go a long way. Staying alert to changing conditions and knowing what tools are available can help mitigate the outcome of a bad weather event.”

The Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Nebraska 511 map provides traffic cameras, winter road conditions, and plow trackers across the state.

If weather forecasters are predicting severe weather, stay inside and wait until it’s over. If you are stranded in your car during a blizzard, officials ask you to make a call and wait for help. Do NOT try and walk to safety.

“Checking road conditions should be a part of your everyday routine,” Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Assistant Director, Erv Portis said. “Knowing this important information can mean the difference between arriving at your destination on-time or not at all.”

Make sure you are updating or creating a winter storm supply kit. It is recommended you do this for every one of your family members’ vehicles. You can start by adding some of the items below:

• Blankets
• Extra sets of dry clothing
• Windshield scraper
• Shovel
• Jumper cables
• First aid kit
• Cell phone charger

For more winter weather preparedness tips, visit NEMA”s website at https://nema.nebraska.gov/severe-weather-preparedness.php#winter. (Cerveny, Katrina. Press Release. “Nebraskans are Encouraged to Start Preparing for Winter Weather”. 07 November, 2024. https://nema.nebraska.gov/articles.php?nid=288)

News from Governor Pillen’s office

Governor Jim Pillen and a delegation of agency, agriculture, manufacturing, military, and university representatives completed a trade mission to the Czech Republic and Germany, two countries with which Nebraska boasts significant and positive ties.

Final days in Germany included meetings with Bayer and Evonik, two companies with facilities in Nebraska. The group also took part in a meet-and-greet reception with Albers Beef, which has a reputation for selling high-quality beef from Omaha.

“They have been buying Nebraska beef for over 20 years and they can’t talk enough about the quality,” said Governor Pillen. “We’ve had an incredibly high-value trip and we’ve developed relationships with great people which will enable us to do even more business.”

Governor Pillen, Department of Economic Development (DED) Director K. C. Belitz and Director Sherry Vinton from the Department of Agriculture (NDA) also met with Hedrick Wüst, the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia. He oversees a highly populated region in Germany where key sectors include automotive, chemical, energy, nanotech, and healthcare.

“There are a lot of similarities in how we see the world and how their values match with ours,” said Director Belitz. “That’s part of why having German companies in Nebraska is such a good fit.”

“We’re here to learn about German standards and the high quality they have. We’re also showing them the standards that we have in Nebraska and looking forward to working together in partnership so we can continue to produce the highest quality, safest foods that our consumers and consumers around the world demand,” said Director Vinton.

The early part of the trade mission to the Czech Republic included a roundtable discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture. There, talks included collaborations to detect and mitigate animal disease and the signing of an agreement for sharing information and best practices on that important issue.

Czechia is a significant producer of cattle, pigs, and milk products. Kris Bousquet, executive director of the Nebraska State Dairy Association (NSDA), said given the importance of dairy in Europe, this trip provides an excellent opportunity for establishing relationships with leadership from Czechia and the European Dairy Association.

One of the long-standing relationships Nebraska shares with the Czech Republic is through its military. For more than 30 years, the Nebraska National Guard has partnered with the Czech Armed Forces under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Through that arrangement, representatives have taken part in mutual military exercises, information and operation sharing and dignitary visits. During the trade mission, Governor Pillen and members of the Nebraska National Guard met with Minister Jan Lipavsky with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While in Germany, Governor Pillen and delegation members took part in EuroTier 2024. Governor Pillen delivered the keynote at the Cattle & Pig Event, then returned the following day to take part in the exhibitor event, which included a display featuring Nebraska. EuroTier is focused on promoting technical and scientific advances in the food and agricultural industries and attracts thousands of exhibitors from more than 50 countries annually.

“It’s clear that we make the best products, we have the best agriculture, and we have the most innovation and entrepreneurship anywhere in the world,” summarized Governor Pillen. “And we need to continue building great relationships so that we have access to international markets. Our vision is to do things necessary for creating more value-added agriculture in Nebraska.” (Strimple, Laura. Press Release. “Governor and Delegates Build Relationships in Czech Republic & Germany During Trade Mission”. 19 November, 2024. https://shorturl.at/LPKwh)

As always, I invite you to let me know your thoughts, ideas, concerns, or suggestions by calling my office at (402) 471-2716 or emailing me at jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.