Letter from the President April 15, 2026
The Servants Heart
This has been quite a ride. I joined the Nebraska Well Drillers Association in 1986 and forty years later I was elected President of the Association. I’m writing this thinking about all the people I’ve met and all the different stories they have shared with me. I’ve met Governors, Senators, and ground water professionals from all over the country and overseas. But of all the places I’ve been to and people I’ve met, the people from our profession in Nebraska impress me the most.
Photo courtesy Joe Richeson
At the time I write this letter the state has been on fire for the past 2-3 weeks. Hundreds of thousands of acres have been burned and lives lost. The fires are beginning to be contained through the efforts of all kinds of people fighting those flames. Farmers, ranchers, firefighters, and water well professionals are just some of our fellow citizens dedicating their time and efforts to save what they can for others. I know of several people in our profession that volunteer as first responders. For example, Rod Wimer of Mead, Joe Richeson of Gothenburg, Scott Shubert of Elm Creek, Holldyn Beck of Ainsworth, just to name a few. Joe provided this picture of the fire that jumped the lake where he has property. He ended up helping his neighbor put out the flames on their home. These men and many others in our professions work long hours fixing pumps, drilling wells, installing water and wastewater systems, then working late into the night or early the next morning as first responders.
These and others groundwater contractors provide safety for the citizens of their community by answering the calls for fire, rescue, and home health emergencies in ADDITION to their paying jobs of providing clean safe water for towns, farms, ranches and rural residents.
Other people I know serve as members of town or village boards, local natural resources districts, at their local church, or school boards districts. Some serve as volunteers for youth sports and some even take other people’s kids camping, hunting and fishing. Some serve as mentors for troubled adolescents.
I’m constantly amazed at the power of their servant’s heart. They do what they do by giving their best to others often receiving the “thank you for your service” comment, sometimes not even that.
For these folks there are no easy days, but they do it anyway. They do it because there is no one else. They are the people you can count on. I know there are many others doing what they do on a regular basis because their neighbors and communities need them. They give the best they have in the service of others, and we could not survive without them.
I am honored to be President of an Association that includes heroes like these. I love hearing these types of stories and would love to hear more.
Maybe we can visit sometime to share those experiences
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