Finnegan Family Honored as 2026 Farm Family of the Year

Agriculture is built on more than acres, equipment, and harvests. It is built on generations of hard work, family commitment, perseverance, and a deep connection to the land. 
Those values were celebrated Thursday, Aug. 6, during the annual Chamber Ag Banquet held at the Elks, where Dan and Cindy Finnegan and family were recognized as the 2026 Farm Family of the Year. 
The evening brought together members of the agricultural community to celebrate local producers, recognize service, and honor those who continue to strengthen the future of agriculture. The Agriculture Future of America Scholarship was awarded to Bryant Feik, who will be attending Southeast Community College to study auto collision repair. 
The Ag Service Award was presented to Charlie Shoemaker in recognition of his dedication, service and contributions to the agricultural community of Cozad. Shoemaker’s career in agriculture spans decades, including his years with Pioneer and owning Shoemaker Seed & Agronomy in Cozad. Through his career, he has built lasting relationships with area farmers and played an important role in supporting local producers, sharing his knowledge and expertise and helping strengthen the agricultural community in the area. Beyond his professional career, Charlie has demonstrated a strong commitment to giving back through service on local boards, supporting youth programs, and sharing his passion for agriculture with the next generation. Since its inception, he has been an integral part of the 4th & 5th Grade Ag Exposure Day, helping students learn about the many opportunities within the agriculture industry. 
The highlight of the evening was the recognition of the Finnegan family, whose story represents generations of dedication to agriculture and the belief that farming is more than an occupation, it is a way of life. 
Like many farm families, Dan and Cindy’s story did not begin with them. It began generations before them. 
Dan’s family roots trace back to Ireland. During the potato famine in the 1860s, his great-grandparents, Owen and Anna Finnegan, immigrated to the United States. After spending time in Chicago, they eventually made their way to northeast Nebraska, where they homesteaded near Newcastle in 1870. That same farm remains in the Finnegan family today and continues to be operated by the fourth generation. 
Dan grew up on that farm alongside six siblings, where farming was truly a family effort. Before and after school, he helped care for livestock, milk cows, and raise crops. His family also sold milk and eggs in town to help support the operation. 
After graduating from Newcastle High School in 1972, Dan began farming full-time. Like many young farmers, he started with determination and a willingness to work hard, using his father’s equipment before eventually purchasing his own machinery, land, cattle, and hogs. He also did custom harvesting to help pay for his first combine. 
Looking back, Dan says one of the biggest challenges was not just acquiring equipment or land, but making the countless decisions required each day to successfully operate a farm. 
Cindy’s agricultural roots run just as deep. Her father’s Buss family came from Germany and farmed north of Cozad, while her mother’s Hansen family immigrated from Denmark. Her great-grandfather, Rasmus Hansen Sr., arrived in America in 1867 at just 18 years old. The family later homesteaded in southwest Custer County in 1904, where they built a sod house and established a lasting family connection to the land. 
That same agricultural heritage shaped Cindy’s childhood. She grew up helping on the farm, with some of her favorite memories including cutting alfalfa and discing fields. After graduating from Cozad High School in 1979, she attended Hastings College, earning a degree in business administration and becoming a Certified Public Accountant. 
Dan and Cindy’s paths crossed in 1989 at a sand volleyball court in South Sioux City. They married in 1991 and were blessed with three children: Jessica, Stephanie, and Jason. 
When they married, farming was always part of their future. Cindy understood the commitment because she had grown up on a farm herself. 
In 1996, Dan and Cindy began farming near Cozad. For two years, they farmed both near Cozad and Newcastle, hauling machinery back and forth across the state. In 1998, they made Cozad their permanent home when their oldest daughter, Jessica, was to begin school. 
Moving to central Nebraska brought new challenges, including learning irrigation. But Dan embraced the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and adapt, qualities that have continued to shape the family operation. 
For the Finnegans, some of their greatest memories are not measured in yields or equipment purchases. They are found in the everyday moments of raising a family on the farm. 
Jessica, Stephanie, and Jason all grew up working alongside their parents. They helped with irrigating, harvesting, laying pipe, and whatever else needed to be done. The children spent countless hours riding in tractors and combines, eating picnic lunches in the field, playing near equipment, and spending time together during the busy seasons. Those experiences 
taught them the value of hard work while creating memories the entire family continues to cherish. 
Today, that family legacy continues with Jason returning home to farm full-time in 2025. His return represents five generations of farming on the family’s land. 
Dan and Cindy never pressured their children to return to the farm. They wanted farming to be a choice made because of passion and commitment. As Dan shared, “Farming is a commitment, not a job.” 
Now in his second year farming full-time, Jason is experiencing firsthand the challenges and rewards of agriculture. Dan and Cindy take pride in watching the next generation carry on the family tradition while continuing to learn and grow. 
Today, the Finnegan family farms approximately 1,700 acres of corn and soybeans, with 1,200 acres of additional pasture ground. While farming has changed dramatically over the years, Dan and Cindy continue to rely on the same principles that guided the generations before them: faith, family, hard work, and responsibility. 
Technology has transformed agriculture, from GPS guidance and auto-steer to irrigation monitoring systems and improved equipment. But the foundation remains the same. One piece of advice passed down through generations continues to guide their decisions: “You don’t need the best of everything to get the job done. Work hard, and things will work out.” 
For Cindy, one of the greatest accomplishments has been simple: “Keeping the family farm together.” For Dan, it is the improvements they have made and the sacrifices required to continue moving forward. 
The Finnegans’ dedication extends beyond their fields. They have devoted countless hours to serving their community through church involvement, boards, youth activities, and local organizations. They believe a strong community is built when everyone contributes. 
As Cindy shared, “If everybody does a little bit, it makes it all better.” 
That same commitment to family, community, and agriculture is what makes the Finnegan family deserving of the 2026 Farm Family of the Year honor. 
Their story is one of preserving a legacy while preparing for the future. A reminder that agriculture is not just about growing crops or raising livestock. It is about growing families, strengthening communities, and caring for the land for generations to come. and sketching it out. She shared that she has used Procreate and Canva to design some of her window art. 
Schroeder shared the items in her toolbox, including the paintbrushes and paints she uses. "Mop brushes are great because they hold a lot of paint," Schroeder said. 
She uses indoor latex acrylic paint and recommended sketching the design with white paint first. "White paint makes the designs brighter," Schroeder said. She purchases small cans of colored paint and transfers them to plastic containers because the cans easily rust since so little paint is used on most projects. She also keeps small containers with lids for mixing paint colors to suit whatever project she is working on. 
Schroeder explained that the first step is to clean the window(s) with glass cleaner and rags. She then sketches the design with white paint, an acrylic marker, or a dry-erase marker. She also uses acrylic paint markers. 
Since acrylic paint does not wash out of clothing, she highly recommended wearing old clothes or a paint apron or shirt. 
Schroeder explained that the more layers of paint, the better, especially when it comes time to remove the paint from the windows. "Each layer of paint needs to dry before adding the next coat of white or another color," Schroeder explained. 
Those in attendance each took a window on the north side of the Cozad Business Center to create their own designs, which ranged from an exquisite flower to a caterpillar to a spooky character. 
Schroeder also demonstrated the basics of bubble and block lettering by first sketching guide lines for each letter. 
When asked about the best temperature for outdoor window painting, Schroeder shared that it needs to be above freezing and that warm weather is fine, provided it is not excessively hot and humid. 
To remove the paint, Schroeder first sprays it thoroughly with a mixture of water and Dawn dish soap. She then uses a razor blade, making sure the paint she is scraping is wet. "The more layers of paint you have, the better, and sometimes it just peels right off once you get it started," Schroeder said. 
One of Schroeder's most impressive creations was the window on the front door of the Cozad United Methodist Church. Vacation Bible School Director Nickole Zook asked Schroeder to paint a design to complement the VBS theme, "Magnify God," which focused on many of God's smallest creations, including insects. 
Throughout her presentation, Schroeder emphasized the importance of sketching designs on paper first and then on the window, reminding participants that mistakes can be corrected as they go. 
She hopes participants will use the skills they learned to decorate downtown windows for Hay Days and other special events.