Nebraskaland

60 Nebraskaland • October 2026 Mixed Bag Sandra Scofield describes herself as a farm kid who grew up on a ranch in western Nebraska, where she showed 4-H sheep, played in the creek and hunted for agates and horned lizards. Outdoor explorations were in the form of regular family outings. Her mother taught her about plants and animals while they hiked the Pine Ridge. Her uncle took her trout fishing. And her father often loaded her in the truck to help check cattle in the field. She especially enjoyed following behind his Graham-Hoeme Chisel Plow, which was designed to leave crop residue to manage for wind erosion — and helped to uncover arrowheads. A s t h e s t o r y g o e s , t h i s f a r m k i d d i d n ' t c h o o s e a political career — it chose her. W h i l e p u rs u i n g a te a c h i n g degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, one required government course assignment sent her to the Nebraska State Capitol to track a bill. While there, she went on a brief tour with the clerk of the legislature and interacted with several senators. Although the bill she picked never made it to the floor for discussion, the experience prompted her to believe she might go into politics when she was older, richer and more well-connected. However, the opportunity came much sooner than she expected. In 1983, while working as a career counselor at Chadron State College, Bob Kerry tapped Scofield to manage his 1983 gubernatorial campaign in northwestern Nebraska. When Kerry won, he appointed her to fill a newly opened seat in the 49th legislative district. Then in 1991, the newly elected Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson asked Scofield to serve in his administration as chief of staff and special assistant to oversee the state's budget and policy offices beginning in 1992. Soon after, Scofield began her legislative work, encouraged by northwestern Nebraskans who wanted her to introduce a bill for strict mining regulation; these concerned citizens worried that uranium mining might contaminate groundwater. "I had to educate myself and then educate colleagues on an issue none of us knew anything about," she said. Just as she was learning who she was — and the political role she would play — a news reporter questioned Scofield's concerns by asking, "Are you an environmentalist?" "Well ..." Scofield answered, "if an environmentalist is somebody who thinks they ought to leave something for future generations, then, yes, I am — but I'd prefer the term 'conservationist'." In recent years, Sandra was named president of the Friends of the Environmental Trust. This advocacy group is dedicated to preserving the original mission of the Nebraska Environmental Trust, a grant program created in 1992 that receives state lottery proceeds to fund environmental c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d h a b i t a t restoration across Nebraska. The Friends of the Environmental Trust actively works to make sure the NET follows equitable procedures, builds public trust, maximizes grant applications and funding opportunities and reopens funding processes to public scrutiny. From farm kid to champion conservationist, Scofield shows no signs of slowing down. Julie Thomas is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor emerita and a Nebraska Master Naturalist. To celebrate our history of conservation storytelling, Nebraskaland will feature experts who have made a difference for Nebraska's wildlife and wild places. Without their work, Nebraskaland writers would have fewer stories to tell. Nebraska's Conservation Politician — Sandra Scofield By Julie Thomas

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