The Journey Back Home: Fourth generation cattleman, Chaylee Tonniges uses her college degree to make her journey back home.

by Mallery Schultz & Lana Hebda

November 26, 2024

Chaylee Tonninges in a feed lot in front of cattle.

Following her dad and grandpa’s around on the farm was just the beginning for this little girl. As she grew up, she did everything with her dad and grandpa’s, from riding in the grain cart to picking up loads of cattle at the sale barn. She quickly knew what was in store for her in the future. 

Chaylee Tonniges, a current animal science major in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the fourth generation of her family's cow-calf and stocker backgrounding operation in Gresham, Nebraska, and has plans to work on the operation after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with the goal of taking it over someday, just like her dad and grandpa’s. 

“I did anything that I could be part of,” Tonniges said. “I was a little shadow, following them around, which was fun. I learned a lot of hands-on skills, and my grandpa’s and dad tried to teach me how to be an asset and how to be helpful without being in the way.” 

 

College... Then Back Home

Chaylee realized she wanted to return home to the operation after being involved in the Engler program and Beef Industry Scholars. These programs are what drove Chaylee to be involved outside of the university like the Young Nebraska Cattlemen and many internships, so she is prepared when she returns home on the family operation.

“I did not realize I wanted to return home until the Engler program and Beef Industry Scholars inspired me that it is possible! That is what drove me to be involved with programs outside of the university like the Young Nebraska Cattlemen and take internships to be well rounded to come home.”

Tonniges always knew getting a college degree was important to her. She soon realized that juggling college and staying up to date with everything on the farm was going to be a challenge. 

“It is a hard balance to manage and it can be a heavy weight to carry, truthfully,” Tonniges said. “I think about our operation from a legacy standpoint and all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into starting the operation to get it to where it is now and —I want to be able to continue that legacy.” 

Even though it is challenging, Tonniges knows she wants to continue that legacy. Her college education is beneficial for her, and she knows that she will not regret it in the future. 

“It has been an awesome experience to be able to learn about different pieces of agriculture while in college that I can utilize in my family's operations, like artificial insemination,” Tonniges said. “I was also able to get certified through the university, which makes me more of an asset to my family. It has been great to learn that information and then directly apply that to our farm.” 

 

Beyond the Regular Classroom: Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program

During her time in CASNR, Tonniges has also earned many life lessons through the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the university. Learning to not give up even though it is hard and to be comfortable with failure was something she stressed as she described the challenge of juggling college and being able to go back home to help on the farm. 


"One of Engler's main concepts is that failure is OK," she said. "It is good to fail and that is 100% agriculture. You must fail to learn, and that is just how a lot of people learn.” 

Having the knowledge, networking, and relationships that she made in college will always be something Tonniges appreciates from her CASNR time. 

“The network piece is huge,” Tonniges said. A big part of being in agriculture is that it is not what you know, it is who you know, and more importantly, who knows you.” 

 Tonniges is proud of pursuing a bachelor's degree while also being able to go home every weekend to help on the family farm. 

“Coming to college was a huge accomplishment for me to show my family that I am serious about returning home,” she said. “I am getting this education to be an asset, and a big reason I have taken on leadership roles is to prove that I am credible.”

For more information on CASNR majors or other opportunities for students within IANR and East Campus, visit casnr.unl.edu or ianr.unl.edu. 

 

Key Takeaways:

  1. Receiving a college degree is important to have when returning home to a family operation.
  2. Juggling college and staying up to date with everything on the farm back home is a challenge but it can be done. 
  3. Students can learn many life lessons through the Engler program at the university.
  4. Students can gain knowledge, networking, and relationships throughout college.
  5. For more information on CASNR majors or other opportunities for students within IANR and East Campus, visit casnr.unl.edu or ianr.unl.edu.