A nationally recognized feedlot management internship program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be expanded through a major gift from Norman and Sharon Timmerman of Indianola.

The Timmermans recently made the gift, a permanent endowment, to support the Feedlot Management Internship Program. The endowment was made in honor of Norman's parents, Leo and Irene Timmerman. The gift amount was not disclosed.

The Timmerman family has three feedyards in Nebraska, six in Colorado and one in Kansas, plus ranch operations in Nebraska, Colorado, Oregon and Texas.

Norman and Sharon Timmerman of Indianola made the gift in honor of his parents, Irene and Leo Timmerman, who are shown in this photo. (Photo courtesy of University of Nebraska Foundation)

Annual income from the endowment will support the feedlot management program, provide scholarship awards to interns and help recruit students to the program from Nebraska and surrounding states, says Ann Bruntz, senior development director at the University of Nebraska Foundation. The gift was made through the foundation.

The internship program, unique to UNL, has produced feedyard management and industry leaders since 1989. "The internship program trains students through comprehensive management classes and with real world experiences in high-caliber feedyards," Bruntz says.

It involves six weeks of summer classes, work at a feedyard from July to Thanksgiving and two additional weeks of class in December.

Additionally, the fund also will be used to provide a stipend award to support of a doctoral student who will coordinate and help expand the internship program.

There have been nearly 140 students gaining internships since the program began.

"The program has gained great respect, given the leadership of Terry Klopfenstein, emeritus animal science professor at UNL, and annual gift support to keep it operating over the past 25 years. The generosity of the Norman Timmerman family will allow us to enhance what we have done, recruit more young people and serve greater numbers of students and feedyards in Nebraska and regionally," says Galen Ericson, Nebraska Cattle Industry Professor of Animal Science at UNL and beef feedlot Extension specialist.

Ronnie Green, vice chancellor of UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, agrees. "Nebraska must continue to have well trained and competent individuals to help lead the beef industry," Green says. "This is especially important in the cattle feeding sector of the industry, as the management of these high-tech businesses becomes more complex and demanding and requires more specialized training than ever before."