Loschen says lt. gov. needs to be a farmer; that’s why he’s running

He has farmed in the Wilcox area since he was a high school senior in 1985. Farming the same land southeast of Wilcox that his parents, Harold and Rosie Loschen, farmed, he also rents property to run more than 1,500 acres of soybeans, corn and wheat.

Loschen, 40, also could someday be "a heartbeat away" from being governor. He was chosen by Democratic governor candidate David Hahn to be his running mate in the November election.

Although Loschen is a farmer from a small town, he has big aspirations — not only for himself, but also for the state he hopes to serve.

Loschen said he feels he can bring "ideas from the farm that have been absent for a long time."

He said it has been more than 40 years since anyone directly involved with agriculture has been with the governor’s office and at least 80 years since someone with such a background served as governor.

"I am running for lieutenant governor because I am very interested in the prosperity of working people in this state," he said. "I know that 45.9 million acres of Nebraska, 94 percent of its landmass, are farm and ranch land. I believe the absence of a farmer or rancher in the position of governor or lieutenant governor for over 40 years has been a downfall in the prosperity of this state."

Loschen feels the loss of farm and ranch businesses in Nebraska is a main issue of the upcoming election.

"In the last seven years we have lost 7,000 farm and ranch businesses. When small businesses are lost, the vitality of the state communities die," he said. "Most middle class working folks in this state are finding it harder to maintain a good standard of living. The decline in population and prosperity in rural communities is something that I feel I can help fix."

Loschen feels it is important to create good paying jobs "to keep our children" in this state, and he feels it is important to have more local management and ownership of energy development.

"When people who live in a community make money, the whole community prospers," he said.

Though Loschen is running for lieutenant governor, he hasn’t spent his life running for office. While he is involved in the Nebraska Farmers Union, his focus has been primarily on farm and family. He said he has voted for Republicans, Democrats and Independents.

In addition to farming, Loschen’s work experience has included driving a school bus, selling feed and hauling fuel. He also is currently a seed salesman.

He is still a farmer at heart and plans to continue farming even if he is in Lincoln for much of planting season.

"This opportunity came up and I have faith in God it will work out. I need to continue to farm. I can’t change careers at age 40," he said. "I’m sure I would end up relying on custom help while still doing the management myself."

Loschen said the Legislature is usually done by the end of May and "there still is time to do lots of farming after May."

Of the possibility of being Nebraska’s next second in command, Loschen is excited and looking forward to getting the chance to help the state’s economy.

"If people are making enough money and communities are financially fit, the family will prosper and education will prosper," he said. "If people can see economic rewards, many social issues including drug abuse, abortion, alcoholism and mental health problems will vastly diminish. I want to bring opportunity and real hope back to Nebraska’s hard working people."