Experience
Paul is an agri-businessman, a farmer and a rancher in the Amherst, Nebraska area. His farming operation includes a family homestead that has been passed down for more than 100 years. Kenney’s farm produces irrigated corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. The cattle operation is a cow-calf operation that produces bred heifers and feeder steers.
Chairman KAAPA Ethanol Holdings, LLC
Paul has served as chairman of the board of KAAPA Ethanol since its inception in 2001. Its original plant produces 80 million gallons/year at its Minden, Nebraska facility. The second plant at Ravenna procures 135 million gallons. Under his leadership, it has added the KAAPA Grains Elevator in Elm Creek, Nebraska and ownership interests in three other ethanol plants located in Janesville, Minnesota, Lima, Ohio and Hankinson, North Dakota that additionally produce a total of 360 million gallons/year.
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 1982
- Amherst High School, 1978
Family
- Married to Angie in 1981
- 4 sons (3 graduated from UNL and 2 farm with Paul)
- 4 daughters-in-law
- 9+ grandchildren
Community Involvement
- Chairman Nebraska Ethanol Board
- Ag Committee member of the Pete Ricketts for Governor Campaign
- Former President of Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance (KAAPA), a value-added farm producer cooperative with over 400 members
- Past Board Member of UNL Ag Alumni Board
- Amherst Public School Board 16 years
- Amherst Volunteer Fireman
- Freedom Award winner for Agriculture
- Buffalo County Economic Development Corp Board
- University of Nebraska Board of Regents
- Past Board member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce
- Past Chairman of Gateway Farm Expo
- Past Council member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church
- Past Council member of St. Johns Catholic Church
- Graduate of the Nebraska Lead IX Program
- Past President of Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute and Counselor
- Honored as Farmer of the Year by the Kearney Kiwanis service club
