Nebraska Extension in Webster County is pleased and excited to welcome Lindsay Waechter - Mead as the new Livestock Systems Educator for the region. Please see a message below from Lindsay.
Hello! I’m mixed animal veterinarian by trade, but I hold a great deal of pride being a 4th generation Nebraska cattlewoman, raising the 5th generation of my family on the same soil as the first. Growing up in Webster County, my family farm consisted of row crops, commercial cow/calf, farrow to finish hog production and a small commercial sheep flock. Throw in a few dozen laying hens and too many barn cats and we filled the gamut of diversified agriculture. I saw veterinary medicine as my opportunity to raise my family in the place I had always called home.
My undergraduate time was spent in Lincoln at UNL in the veterinary science and animal science program. The most important part of these years was not necessarily in the class work but meeting life-long connections, including my husband, Clay. His love for the beef industry was contagious and would play an integral part in my interest in beef cattle medicine.
Following four years of veterinary school at Kansas State University, we moved back to south central Nebraska where I was blessed to practice medicine for 12 years. An opportunity presented to switch to academia, and I accepted a UNL faculty position at Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center. My duties included teaching production medicine as well as extension responsibilities to Nebraska veterinarians and beef producers.
Life never follows the script we write. After two years at GPVEC, I began to realize my passion for Nebraska animal agriculture and extension could be used to serve south central Nebraska as a Beef Extension Educator. I am excited to bring my interests surrounding cow/calf health and preventative medicine to the Beef Team. My current work involves looking at environmental effects on neonatal calf immunity and colostral transfer. I am also passionate about rural agriculture and what the veterinary profession can do to positively influence rural communities to ensure that generations can continue to enjoy the life that I love.
My family time is centered around our three children: Anna, Harrison and Norah. We spend our days on our farm southwest of Blue Hill, raising Red Angus cattle and following our kids to their many activities. You will usually find us cheering from the sidelines of the field/court and the show ring.
I look forward to meeting new faces and seeing old friends, as well as conversations on ways that I can help each of you be successful. Please reach out by phone, email or stop by the office. I’ll have the coffee ready to go.
