The stories have been told in small-town Nebraska for years, stories I remember hearing as a ’90s farm kid near Red Cloud. Ted Turner was buying up the Sandhills and jacking up prices. Later, it was Bill Gates. Then the Chinese government. True? Kind of true? False? Who knew? It was word of mouth. Rumor. Gossip.
Now, thanks to a first-of-its-kind analysis by FFP reporters, with a huge assist from UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications professor Matt Waite and his data journalism class, Flatwater Free Press is actually testing these tales. We’re separating myth from reality. We’re giving Nebraskans fact-based answers about who is buying up Nebraska land, illustrating how that’s different from the past and how it may alter our future.
“Who’s Buying Nebraska?” our multi-month, multi-part series, started this week with an overview story from investigative reporters Yanqi Xu and Destiny Herbers. It shows that, in the past five years, out-of-state corporate farms, out-of-state investors, a certain Utah-based church and a few billionaires have bought up giant chunks of Nebraska land.
You will know some names. You will not know some others. It’s all fascinating.
I can’t begin to convey the time, effort and energy Yanqi (Yen-chee) and Destiny put into this analysis, which involved gathering and correcting error-ridden data and then hacking their way through a figurative jungle of LLCs that often obscure (and sometimes purposely hide) the identities of buyers. Check out the charts on the Top 10 buyers, by acre and by value, here.
It’s a big swing, a swing for the fences — exactly the sort of big, ambitious project we dreamed about when FFP was merely an idea.
The stories in “Who’s Buying Nebraska?” will be running weekly for the rest of the year. Thank you to Waite for the original idea, his class for the initial record gathering work and to the FFP reporters for doing the hard thing, and doing it right.
Coming up next week: A deeper dive into the Mormon Church’s shopping spree in Nebraska. Where is the church buying, and why?
Bros from different moms: Cindy Lange-Kubick stories are gifts. That’s how I feel when I read them, at least. Her latest is a story about the power of ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the name of family — even when that family isn’t listed on a birth certificate. I would tell you more, but then I would be unwrapping your present for you.
About that one-two punch: A big, ambitious investigative series that seeks to answer a question that many Nebraskans have asked but no media outlet has fully answered. A Friday feature story from a skilled storyteller with the power to restore your faith in humanity. And this newsletter!
This is, indeed, the sort of week we dreamed about when we were starting FFP. And I would appreciate your support as we attempt to do more and more important journalism like this in the months ahead.
During our holiday season donor drive, we’re looking to sign up 400 donors willing to give a few of your hard-earned dollars to support FFP — Nebraska’s first independent, statewide nonprofit newsroom.
This campaign started Tuesday, and we have already signed up 189 new donors! Add your gift here, and help us hit our goal.
And I don’t want to forget about our old reliables, our BFFs, our original gangster donors. If you haven’t yet given in 2023, now is the perfect time because, thanks to a generous local match and the national NewsMatch program … every $1 you ship us becomes $3.
I’m no financial genius but I think tripling your money sounds pretty good.
Listening in Grand Island: Because of our land series, I didn’t attend the listening tour stop that FFP held in Grand Island this week. And honestly, when I received a “this is awesome” text from executive director Matt Wynn Tuesday night, I was super jealous.
The Flatwater team, which included Seacrest Greater Nebraska reporter Natalia Alamdari, our new director of advancement Barbara Soderlin and our super-duper brand new audience manager Ciara Lee (welcome, Ciara!) heard about what Grand Island is doing to combat serious problems like human trafficking and homelessness. They spoke to Rotary clubs, met community leaders and ate birria tacos at Tacos Los Hermanos. And then, in conjunction with the Grand Island Independent, they met readers and residents for a happy hour at Prairie Pride Brewing. Yes, the Prairie Pride beer was part of the reason I was jealous back at the office.
These listening tours really are amazing. We always drive back with story ideas, and a renewed sense of the importance of telling Nebraska stories border to border.
Thanks to our sponsor: This week, it’s the Lincoln Community Foundation, which supports our ability to tell important Lincoln-area stories like the one CLK told this week. Community foundations are such wonderful organizations helping improve our Nebraska communities. I thank the Lincoln Community Foundation for supporting Lincoln — and for recognizing and supporting nonprofit journalism’s role in informing and improving our hometowns.
Questions wanted: Some of our best story ideas come from readers, and they typically start with a burning question that just cries out for an answer. Have a question that our reporters need to look into? Complete this form or reach our newsroom at [email protected].
Sincerely,
—Matthew Hansen, Executive Editor
Here’s what we’re into this week: News from around Nebraska
Every week we like to share great Nebraska journalism, no matter who made it. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
- Whether — and when — Nebraskans have the right to abortion is one step closer to going before state voters in 2024. Aaron Sanderford of the Nebraska Examiner with the news of the new ballot initiative unveiled this week.
- A big story on Nebraska from the Washington Post this week, focused on the use of these ballot initiatives to try to do things — like paid sick leave — that the Nebraska Legislature decides not to do.
- A wild chapter in the history of Dundee County appears to be ending, after voters overwhelmingly recalled a rogue sheriff, ousting him from office. Nebraska Public Media’s Bill Kelly with a good story on what was happening there — including lies, lawsuits and some eyebrow raising arguments about the U.S. Constitution. NTV News’ Steve White with an update after the vote, including the new interim sheriff pledging that it’s time to heal.
- The University of Nebraska is hiring a new president, and they hope he or she sticks around a little while this time. An update on the NU presidential search from the Journal Star’s Chris Dunker.
- As an invasion rages in Gaza following the attack on Israel, Omaha’s Tri-Faith campus, which famously includes a mosque, a synagogue and a church, struggles to grapple with the violent reality. An important story from NPM’s Jolie Peal.
