Husker Organics owner Jeff Nelson began offering mowing services to help pay for some additional equipment, and immediately saw a need to help educate people on how they could work with nature to get more performance out of their lawn. For this reason, Husker Organics was born. Since 2007, they have been building healthier lawns through natural means by working to develop natural fertilizers and encouraging healthier practices.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?
Hands down, the biggest challenge, as a small business owner, is trying to do everything all at once. We are out working in the field, and my phone gets slammed with calls for estimates or requests for information (which is great!), but trying to keep up with all communication, equipment maintenance, family, scheduling, service-calls and so forth can be a daunting task. I do realize that every small business experiences growing pains, and that it is just part of the growth process. As far as being in the green industry, the biggest challenge we face is helping some people let go of “old school” ideas. There is a lot of well-intentioned but misguided information that exists. The idea we keep trying to promote is the concept of feeding your lawn by feeding the earth. Put simply, healthy soil = healthy lawns!
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
I get my most satisfaction, professionally, from the success stories. The “thank-you’s” and kind words we get from many of our clients is what makes the effort worthwhile.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be?
I really cannot see myself doing anything else. The potential for growth, flexibility in direction, and satisfaction of working outside with my hands offers enough variety to keep a guy like me motivated to keep achieving. I feel “best” when I come home tired and sore. I’ve always been that way. As I grow older, I plan to have employees who do the “heavy lifting,” but for now, I am right where I want to be.
Tell me a little about your family.
My wife and I have been happily married since 1999, and have two wonderful daughters, aged 9 and 6. Any moment not spent in the “field” is generally filled with dance classes, book clubs, or whatever else they may be into at the time.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?
Making the transition from teaching high school for over a decade to running a green industry business full-time was definitely one of the most significant turning points. While stressful, it is something that makes me happy.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life?
Granted, I am no professional actor, but I have had a love of the stage since high school and college, and have acted off and on over the years. Unfortunately, lawns are not very appreciative of this talent.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
On a nice, calm evening, we really enjoy grabbing a pizza and some snacks on our way to the lake for some family time. My girls love it when the boat “goes fast!”
What is your favorite movie?
The Lorax, because my girls really like it and it sends a good message about being responsible with our resources.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
If people would like to contact me, they can email jeff@huskerorganics.com, call 402-540-1463, or submit a request for an estimate at www.huskerorganics.com.