Land Seekers - Nebraska Land Link

Once you have been selected by a landowner for an interview you will need to set yourself apart from the others who might be interviewed. This interview is going to be very similar to a job interview, which means you should come prepared and presentable. Use this time with the landowner to discuss your plans and see if you will be a good match.

With Jay Parsons, professor and farm and ranch management specialist, Department of Agricultural Economics.

As a beginning farmer or rancher you have taken the first step to overcoming one of the greatest challenges your generation faces, access to land. Now that your application has been submitted and you have had your initial interview with a member of the Land Link team, you are wondering what happens next?

Your application has been uploaded to the Nebraska Land Link database. Once it is uploaded, the Land Link team will conduct a search for a landowner that will be a good fit for you, your family and your goals. If there is a potential match, a Land Link team member will forward your application to the landowner and notify you that we have a potential landowner for you including a brief description of what they are offering. Please note, that landowners may receive several land seeker applications. It may take them some time to sift through the information.

If the landowner thinks you may be a good fit for their operation, they might contact you for a meeting. The Land Link team is not involved in the interview process. It is up to you and the landowner to keep the lines of communication open. However, a Land Link team member will be regular contact with you to see how to process is going.

Once your interview with the landowner is complete, you need to follow-up with them. It may take several interactions with the landowner to determine if the match is viable. Make sure that you initiate this interaction. Consider the frequency of interaction, the message you want to convey, and mode of communication. Here are a couple different ways it can be done.

• A letter. This can be used to explain why you and your family would be the perfect fit for the landowner’s operation. The letter can cover your goals, vision, and experience. Think of the letter as your final sales pitch as why you would be the best fit for them.
• A Thank You note. This can be used as a way to tell them you are interested and enjoyed meeting with them or telling them thank you for your time, but you are not interested in their operation.
• A phone call. This is the quickest and easiest way to ask more questions or let the landowner know you are or are not interested.

If this match doesn’t work out, your application will stay in the Land Link database and the Land Link team will work to get you matched with a different landowner.
Preparing for the interview, writing a follow-up communication, or telling a landowner you aren’t interested can be hard. Reaching out to a Land Link team member and asking for help is easy to do. The team is here to help you and the landowners find the perfect match.