Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts
LINCOLN, Nebraska – The voting members of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Board of Directors elected new officers during their board meeting March 11, 2024.
The NARD Board consists of representatives from each of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). The board meets five times throughout the year and helps guide the association and NRDs in decision making that protects lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. The NARD Risk Pool Board governs the health insurance program for NRD employees.
Marty Graff, NARD President (Ainsworth, Nebraska)Marty Graff of the Middle Niobrara NRD was elected president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. Graff has served on the Middle Niobrara NRD Board 29 years and on the NARD boards since 2018. He farms with his wife, Brenda, and sons near Ainsworth. Off the farm, Graff serves on the East Woodlawn Cemetery Board (Johnstown, Nebraska) and is active in the Elks Club helping with youth baseball and wrestling.
Ryan Reuter, NARD Vice President (Minatare, Nebraska)Ryan Reuter of the North Platte NRD was elected vice president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. Reuter, a sales manager with Betaseed and ACH Seeds, has served on the North Platte NRD and NARD boards since 2018. Reuter and his wife Amie have two daughters, Avery and Addison.
Mason Hoffman, NARD Secretary-Treasurer (Juniata, Nebraska)Mason Hoffman of the Little Blue NRD was elected secretary-treasurer of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. He farms outside of Hastings and has served on the Little Blue NRD Board since 2016 and on the NARD boards since 2021. Hoffman and his wife Michelle have three children, Mara, Natalie and Theodore (Tate).
Dr. Orval Gigstad, NARD Past President (Syracuse, Nebraska)Dr. Orval Gigstad from the Nemaha NRD serves as past president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. He served as president from 2022-2024 and has been on the boards since 1996. Gigstad has served on the Nemaha NRD Board since 1993 and serves as chair of the National Association of Conservation Districts Northern Plains Region. A practicing veterinarian for more than 45 years, he operates the Arbor Valley Animal Clinic in Syracuse. Gigstad and his wife Carolyn have two children, Grady and Amber, and grandchildren, Quincy and Amelia.
In addition to the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and past president, the NARD Board executive committee includes Terry Martin, Legislative Committee chair representing the Upper Republican NRD, and Bob Hilger, Information and Education Committee chair representing the Lower Platte North NRD.
Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts Managers CommitteeOn March 6, the NRD managers elected J. Scott Sobotka, general manager of the Lower Big Blue NRD, as chair of the Managers Committee; and Wade Ellwanger, general manager of the Lower Niobrara NRD, as vice-chair of the Managers Committee.
J. Scott Sobotka, Lower Big Blue NRDJ. Scott Sobotka was promoted to general manager of the Lower Big Blue NRD in January 2022. He has served the district for 22 years as a land resources specialist and most recently as assistant manager. Sobotka lives near Tobias with his wife Wendee and daughters Jaicee, Josiee and Jaylee.
Wade Ellwanger, Lower Niobrara NRDWade Ellwanger was promoted to general manager of the Lower Niobrara NRD in March 2023. Prior to his promotion, he served the district for six years as a water resources coordinator and assistant manager. He also has more than 20 years of production management experience in the ag industry. Ellwanger earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a Class IX graduate of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. He is a native of Butte, Nebraska, and has six children and six grandchildren.
The Managers Committee includes managers from all 23 Natural Resources Districts. The committee meets five times a year to coordinate NRD activities with state and federal agencies, conservation partners and other parties to protect Nebraska’s natural resources.
The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRD), works with individual districts to protect lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at www.nrdnet.org.