The editorial team of The Nebraska Sandhills owes gratitude and thanks to a number of individuals. We especially thank Michael Boehm, Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He was a project champion from the start, envisioning it as part of the fiftieth anniversary of IANR’s founding in 2023. Others on the IANR leadership team who deserve kudos are Jeff Bassford, Cara Pesek, and Sheryl May. We also thank Walt Schacht, Emeritus Sunkist Fiesta Bowl Professor of Agronomy and director emeritus of the Center for Grasslands Studies at UNL; and Richard K. Edwards, director emeritus of the Center for Great Plains Studies at UNL. Both offered invaluable ideas, sources, and leads as early planning was underway in 2019 and 2020, as did Margaret Jacobs, current director of the Center for Great Plains Studies.
Scientists, writers, and photography archivists, especially archivist Jaclyn Vogt at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, were great contributors. Thanks as well to the members of UNL’s Platte Basin Timelapse, including Mariah Lundgren and Dakota Altman. We also thank Lindsey Hillgartner at History Nebraska and Mary Ellen Ducey and Josh Caster at UNL Libraries for their assistance.
Others who did not provide essays but contributed expertise include Angie Fox, University of Nebraska State Museum; Virginia “Ginny” L. McGuire, hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Water Science Center; Alan B. Bond, emeritus professor, School of Biological Sciences; David Wedin, professor, School of Natural Resources; and Abigail Snyder, web designer in the School of Natural Resources.
We thank the many scholars, journalists, historians, property owners, and State of Nebraska scientists who contributed articles and ideas. Thanks much to those who donated the use of their photographs: Phil Schoenberger, Chris Helzer, Platte Basin Timelapse, Michael Forsberg, and Tom White. We also thank Catherine E. Blount for permission to use photographs from her collection regarding DeWitty. Thank you, Daniele Hunter, assistant literary agent, McIntosh & Otis Inc. Thank you, Richard Berkland of Valmont Industries.
Thanks to Donna Shear, director emerita of the University of Nebraska Press, for greenlighting the project, and to the entire Press team, including Ann Baker and Bridget Barry. Kudos to the University of Nebraska Foundation team led by Josh Egley and Marcia White, for fundraising; a special thanks to our very first (and continuing) underwriter, Tom Farrell.
Thank you to the incredible group of faculty and nonfaculty scientists and scholars at UNL and other universities for their contributions. Finally, thank you to Judy Diamond for stepping in when Monica Norby had to pull back due to a health concern. To know that our bench at the University of Nebraska is deep and filled with experts willing and able to help is greatly appreciated.
