UNL policy specialist honored by ACE

Brad Lubben
Brad Lubben

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension public policy specialist Brad Lubben has been honored as Communicator of the Year by the Nebraska chapter of the Association of Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences.

One nominator said of Lubben: “As a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension policy specialist, Dr. Lubben is extremely knowledgeable in agricultural policy, which encompasses the federal farm bill, and what its farm programs mean to rural and urban Nebraskans.”

In addition to his extensive knowledge about agricultural economics and trade, public policy and farm management, Lubben effectively communicates these often complex topics’ importance to others.

“Dr. Lubben thoughtfully and without bias explains the implications of these concepts in language that farmers, reporters and others can understand,” the nominator continued.

Another nominator added, “Dr. Lubben adeptly blends new communication technologies with good old-fashioned, ‘news sense’ to communication research-based information to agricultural producers and policy makers. Dr. Lubben is clearly one of the most visible faculty members in the Department of Agricultural Economics due to his routine and high-impact presence in all news media forms across Nebraska, the region and nation.

“He has quickly earned a reputation among his peers and industry as one of the few professionals in the country who can explain the complexity, nuances, politics and economics associated with federal and state farm policy,” this nominator added. “Interestingly, he is equally comfortable expressing himself in front of senators, news media or agricultural producers and, importantly, relishes the opportunity to speak with all of them.”

Lubben earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and his master’s in ag economics, with a minor in agronomy, from UNL, and his Ph.D. in ag economics from Kansas State University.