Frank Sibert

Family: Wife-Shirley

Background:
As a rancher, banker, cattle feeder, county agent, and through many other roles, Frank Sibert has served the Nebraska livestock industry for over 50 years. He and his wife Shirley have committed innumerable hours and significant funding in support of leadership and scholarship programs for young people.

Frank was born on October 7, 1929 in Red Cloud, Nebraska and spent his childhood and youth growing up on a farm near Inavale. At age 16, Frank joined the Army, but returned to Nebraska soon after completing his duties there. In 1952, Frank graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Animal Science. Also, he and Shirley were married in 1952.

After graduating from UNL, Frank served as an Assistant County Extension Agent in Dawson County. For two years, he also was in charge of the State Rural Youth Program, a part of the State 4-H Club Office. Following this, Frank left a lasting impression with many Nebraskans for his service to the Sandhills Cattle Association, where he served as manager for 10 years. Frank was also employed by the Stockyards Bank in Omaha as an ag loan officer and continued to develop his ties to the livestock industry. During his years in Omaha, he was an active member in the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. He served as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee for the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and was always active in helping with the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Livestock Expositions. In 1975, Frank and Shirley purchased the Rolling Stone Ranch in Valentine, and moved to the ranch in 1977. During the next 25 years, Frank was very busy with his own ranching business, but continued his outstanding service to the livestock industry.

One of the accomplishments of which Frank has the fondest memories is his time as Chairman of the Nebraska Cattlemen's Research and Education Foundation Board when he led the effort to establish an endowed Professorship Chair in the Animal Science Department. This effort resulted in a $200,000 endowed fund which provides an annual stipend to an Animal Science professor who is chosen as the "Nebraska Cattle Industry Professor". Frank and Shirley have been very generous in providing scholarships for Nebraska's youth. They established an endowment with the Nebraska Cattlemen's Foundation which annual provides a $1,000 college scholarship. They also established a $100,000 endowment in the Sandhills Area Foundation, which has been used to provide numerous scholarships to area youth. The Nebraska LEAD program also benefits from a $100,000 endowment established by the Siberts.

After spending over 20 years ranching in the Sandhills, Frank wanted to help insure that ranchers in the area continued to have a market for their cattle. To achieve this, Frank led a group of 30 investors to purchase the old Valentine Livestock Auction Market and to replace it was a modern and efficient facility, which was completed in 2003. Frank is also involved in the Rotary Club, Cherry County Promotion Board, and the Sandhills Investment Syndicate, just to name a few.

Frank's dedication to the livestock industry and youth of this state has had and will continue to have an impact for generations to come. His generous giving of time, talent and treasure is a measure of his service to agriculture, to education and to the youth of Nebraska.

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