Rod Hollman Recipient of Corporal Daegan Page Defending the Soil Award

DENTON, Neb. – Rod Hollman of Hollman Angus Farm near Martell, Neb. is the 2024 recipient of the Nebraska Marine Daegan William-Tyeler Page Defending the Soil Memorial Award.  The award was presented during the Graze Master Group – “Paths to Profitability Event” held in Denton, Neb. on Wednesday, July 24.  It was a great honor to have Greg Page, Corporal Daegan Page’s father in attendance to help present the award. 

The award was designed to honor the memory of Corporal Daegan Page who served in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.  On August 26, 2021, Page, age 23, was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the attack at the Abbey Gate of the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan.  At least 170-plus Afghans were also killed in the bombing, as they struggled to get on flights out of the country. 

The Graze Master Group designed this award to keep alive the memory of sacrifices made by Page, his comrades, and also military service members along with their families who have made sacrifices for their nation for generations.  The very least we can do as farmers and ranchers is to protect and renew the soil under our management and care after it has been fought for and defended in a multitude of ways. 

Hollman was initially drafted into the Army.  He joined the Marine Corps on December 28, 1967, and spent four years serving his nation in the Marine Support Battalion working with the Naval Security Group where his role was with classified military communications.  He was eventually sent to Puerto Rico during Vietnam.  His wife, Linda Bohmont (of Bohmont Herefords) went to Puerto Rico with her husband where their first child, Greg, was born.

Hollman served as a linguist in the Marines and had to learn Spanish to conduct his role.  It was such a top-secret mission that he could not say much about his service for most of his life.  Hollman served in the Marines until June 10, 1971, and achieved the rank of Sgt. E-5, “When I came back home, there was not room to farm with my dad, but I did still have some cows.  I had purchased my first registered Angus heifer in 1960 from Earl Bohmont.  I had a few cows, rented a bit more pasture, and worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Lincoln, Nebraska and farmed at night.” 

In 1976, the Hollmans purchased the farm and ranch where they reside today.  They eventually started selling registered Angus bulls, mostly private treaty, all across Nebraska to friends and cattle producers from as far away as Thedford, Neb.  The couple raised three children. Greg has two boys – Jonathan and Jackson.  Greg raises cattle, serves on the Crete FFA Alumni board with his father, and works for Nifco. Scott and his wife Jen have two girls – Hannah and Avery. Scott works for Monolith and Jen is a stay-at-home mom. Cheri and her husband Mike Worm farm and raise cattle and have five children between them – Codie, Riley, Ryan, Haylee, and Kalob. Cheri works for the Farm Service Agency and Mike works for the ethanol plant in Adams.  In February 2024, Rod and Linda celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. 

Hollman has always been community-driven. When the state fair was moving out of Lincoln to Grand Island, he didn’t want the ag youth of Lancaster county left behind.  Hollman worked tirelessly for many hours with the Lancaster County fair board and played a pivotal role ensuring local 4-Hers would have the Sandhills Event Center to continue the strong county fair tradition in their area.   

The lifelong learner who didn’t have the chance to attend college because he was drafted, eventually pursued a degree in Business Management. Taking night classes, Hollman graduated in 1991 from Doane University in Crete the same year his middle son Scott graduated high school.

Today, you can find Hollman and his wife raising cattle, no-till farming corn, soybeans, wheat, and an array of cover crops including frost-seeding red clover in wheat and conducting a host of other experiments to improve their farm and ranch.  Hollman said it’s all about helping to renew and regenerate the soil and water, “I am passionate about soil health today. I want to get the ground better for my grandchildren and great grandchildren.” 

“Building soil health and soil organic matter takes time and work,” he reiterated. “What works for one may not work well for others.  It’s also important to note that one should not make a change across the board, but should instead try something in one field.  If it works, then you can try it on more fields or make a few changes and try again.”

The Graze Master Group is deeply appreciative to Hollman for his service and his leadership in agriculture, said co-founders of the group, Del Ficke and Kerry Hoffschneider, “It’s one thing to serve your nation in the military and for that dedication and service we are forever grateful.  Then you also came home and continued your leadership in agriculture.  Your willingness to challenge yourself and continue learning and implementing practices that preserve the land, water, and ultimately benefit the lives of all fellow citizens, is another level of leadership and courage that should inspire all of us to do better.”