Tag: Awards

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The Jackson Fork Ranch Wins the 2023 World Championship Six Horse Hitch Competition 

I’m proud to share that my Jackson Fork Ranch team has won the 2023 World Championship Six Horse Hitch competition. The championship competition, which took place in September in Shipshewana, Indiana, is the culmination of the Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series. This prestigious final has grown to become the “Triple-Crown” of draft horse competitions. 

The world champion Jackson Fork Ranch team is made up of Percherons, a truly beautiful and powerful breed of draft horse. I’m thrilled to say we’ve won three of the past four competitions (we also took home World Six-Hitch Championships in 2020 and 2022). 

Each year, Six Horse hitches across the continent compete at state and county fairs and agricultural exhibitions to accumulate points for the Classic Series. Close to two hundred hitches travel within their region and beyond to compete. It all builds to a climax at the end of the series, when the five highest point hitches in each of three breed classifications are invited to compete. 

(Ross Honsberger, Jackson Fork Ranch’s equine manager and hitch trainer, pictured with the world champion Jackson Fork Ranch hitch)

So much of our success is due to the excellent work of Ross Honsberger, Jackson Fork Ranch’s equine manager and hitch trainer. With the assistance of Reece Mangels, Ross has trained the hitch since 2019. The Jackson Fork Ranch is currently breeding the show horse mares on the ranch with the intention of producing future champions. Several foals have been born on the ranch and geldings retire there as well.

Winning the 2023 World Championship is an incredible accomplishment, one that is the result of years of hard work and these amazing horses. I’m proud of the entire Jackson Fork Ranch team. 

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WWII Museum Gala

Image of WWII Museum

Last week I was pleased to attend the National World War II Museum’s American Spirit Awards Gala in New Orleans.  It’s an event that celebrates individuals and organizations whose work reflects the values and spirit of those who served our country during the World War II years. The museum’s gala honors people who inspire others through their own acts of courage, sacrifice, initiative, and generosity – sounds like the right people to honor in my opinion.

I love the National World War II Museum and I’m proud that my son Todd serves on the museum’s Board of Trustees.  I also love the city of New Orleans, where one of my favorite entrepreneurs, Loretta, founded and runs her fantastic pralines store.

The National World War II Museum is a truly amazing place with towering buildings that house interactive exhibits with aircraft and tanks from WWII.  There’s also a Higgins boat; the Nebraska-made landing craft extensively used during the war for amphibious landings. 

Among those honored at the gala were former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Senator Joe Lieberman. The two men, who last appeared on stage as vice-presidential nominees for their respective parties in 2000, exemplify leadership and service to country.  It was a refreshing discussion between two leaders who, while they may be from different political parties, share the view of America as an indispensable nation.

The National World War II Museum is a terrific place that honors some of our greatest heroes.  If you’ve not seen it yet, I encourage you to make the trip – it’s worth it!

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Kohl Children’s Museum

Image of Joe Ricketts at Kohl Childrens Museum Awards Gala

I was recently honored to be recognized by the Kohl Children’s Museum for my work with Opportunity Education making quality education accessible to children living in poverty.  The museum hosted a wonderful gala at which I received their 2017 Power of Play Award.

I don’t believe you lift people out of poverty with handouts; you do it by breaking the cycle of poverty and specifically by providing people with educational opportunities. Those opportunities lead to good jobs.  Good jobs lead to stable families.  And stable families raise children who can do even better than their parents.  This is the very reason I started the Opportunity Education and built NGL Academies in California, Nebraska and Tanzania.

Thank you to the Kohl Children’s Museum for the award and, more importantly, for giving me the chance to hopefully inspire others to use the power of education to help people living in poverty have an opportunity for a better life.

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Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial

Image of Columbus Chamber of Commerce Award reciepients

Saturday, May 27, 2017, my wife, Marlene, was honored by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce for her support of the Utah Beach Higgins Memorial located at the Utah Beach Museum in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, France.  The memorial has been placed in the spot where a gap was blown open by U.S. Army Rangers on the morning of June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day.  This memorial includes statues of WWII soldiers, a replica of the Higgins Boat and Columbus Nebraska’s very own Andrew Jackson Higgins.

Mr. Higgins was born in Columbus, Nebraska, attended schools in Omaha and served in the Nebraska National Guard before relocating to New Orleans where he founded Higgins Industries.  His vision and creation of a shallow-draft ship, the Higgins Boat, changed the course of history.  The vessels were used to transport men and equipment safely to beaches during amphibious landings.  General Dwight D. Eisenhower called Higgins, “The man who won the war for us.”  He went on to say, “If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), we never could have landed over an open beach.  The whole strategy of the war would have been different.”

Our sincerest thanks to the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and it is our honor to remember our veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.