Jessica Sperber Named Extension Assistant Professor and Feedlot Specialist Thursday, December 1, 2022
Jessica Sperber has joined the Department of Animal Science as an extension assistant professor and extension feedlot specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
In her role, Sperber will deliver relevant education and guide problem-solving efforts targeted towards feedlot owners, management, consultants, and allied industry. She will also organize the Nebraska beef feedlot extension team, coordinate feedlot roundtables, and contribute to feedlot extension publications.
"We're excited to add Jessica to our team," said Galen Erickson, Nebraska Cattle Industry Professor of Animal Science and leader of the Beef Innovation initiative at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "She's a great fit because she has the knowledge, is very personable, and has a great desire to help producers become better. She has a lot of innovative outreach methods that will help us take that next step and move us forward."
She earned her Ph.D., in Animal Science with a specialization in Ruminant Nutrition at Nebraska in December of 2021 and was previously a Feedlot Nutrition Consultant and Technical Specialist at Bullseye Feeds in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada. From 2019-2021, she served as a graduate assistant at Nebraska at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, NE, assisting with research and learning initiatives at the feedlot and forage unit. She also previously served as a graduate assistant at West Texas A&M University from January 2017-December 2018.
"When the feedlot extension position was created at Nebraska, it immediately caught my attention," said Sperber. "Having recently graduated from the University, I have a strong understanding of the important role that feedlot nutrition research and extension plays in the Nebraska cattle feeding sector. Connecting industry-relevant research back to the beef producer in one of the largest and most progressive feedlot states in the United States, was an opportunity that I couldn't miss."
A native of Alberta, Canada, her family owns and operates a cow/calf and grain operation and she grew up exhibiting and evaluating cattle at various livestock shows across North America.