Commonsense Republican Jim Pillen was sworn in as Nebraska's 41st governor on January 5, 2023.
Jim grew up on a farm in Platte County and raised pigs with his father, Dale. He graduated from Lakeview High School.
A two-time First-Team All-Big Eight defensive back for the legendary Coach Tom Osborne, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from UNL and married Suzanne Shreve. He then earned a doctor of veterinary medicine from Kansas State University. In 1983, Jim returned to Nebraska and opened a small animal practice and swine consulting practice.
Jim and his father, Dale, partnered together, raising 60 sows and 1,200 market hogs on a dirt lot on their home farm. In 1993, Jim started Pillen Family Farms. In 2003, he added DNA Genetics. 2012 brought the addition of Jim’s two oldest children, Sarah and Brock, into the business.
Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics are now a multigenerational family-run business with over 1,100 team members. The family business operates with three core beliefs — do what is right, do the best you can, and treat others the way you want to be treated.
From 2013-2023, Jim served as a member of the Nebraska Board of Regents, leading efforts to control university spending, keep woke politics out of classrooms, and expand opportunity for future generations of Nebraskans.
As the first Nebraska Governor from agriculture in over 100 years, Jim's priorities include supporting our kids, fixing our broken tax system, growing value-added agriculture, and promoting Nebraska values.
Jim and Suzanne have been married for more than 40 years. They have four children, Sarah, Brock, Polly and Izic, and eight grandchildren.
