Lieutenant Governor To Celebrate Antelope County Ag Feats

Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley will be making a stop in Clearwater to celebrate Antelope County becoming Livestock Friendly.

On October 13, Automated Dairy will have the open house for the new Thiele Dairy near Clearwater. 

Originally, Governor Pete Ricketts was scheduled to attend the event, but as of Wednesday afternoon the lieutenant governor will take his place. 

"The timing just worked perfect so the open house and the designation ceremony can happen at the same time." Manager Connie Bellingtier from Automate Dairy said. "It is one of the biggest diary facility in the state and it just happens to be here at Clearwater!"

Antelope County was named "Livestock Friendly" back in January. The Nebraska Livestock Friendly County program is a voluntary program, started in 2003, that recognizes counties that actively support the livestock industry. 

Bellingtier said this is an opportunity for the community to stand together and be excited about this happening in the community. "The entire Nebraska ag economy depends on livestock. And the designation just shows the support for the present, and the future livestock producers in the state."

Thiele Dairy has been a function dairy producer for many years now, but a new facility has been open since March 10 of this year.

"We would love to have as many people from the community to see it," Bellingtier explained.

Everyone will be able to tour and ask questions about the new facility on the day of the open house at 2 p.m. on October 13. The Livestock Friendly designation ceremony starts at 4:30 followed by a meal of hambergers, bratts, and hotdogs, then a live band.

"Of course we will have milk and ice cream," Bellingtier said.