NCTA academics and agriculture service
Academic teams and programs from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture will be traveling to events in Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa for contests and volunteer service as part of their coursework.
I appreciate the dedication and extra time devoted by faculty and students to these unique learning experiences. Often, they gather for early-morning team practices or individual sessions at the arena or classroom, like any dedicated collegiate athlete does, to give their top performance at contests.
The Aggie ranch horse, livestock and crops judging teams are competing or volunteering at industry events this weekend. Over the past week, our ranch horse team and veterinary technology students represented NCTA at events in South Dakota and Texas, respectively.
Their interaction at industry seminars and forums, along with contests in show rings and arenas, gives employers and industry professionals a great chance to observe the educational commitment NCTA students make to a lifelong career in agriculture.
For example, the Ranch Horse team recently returned from the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City. The open class contest gave our students and college horses a great warm-up for the upcoming collegiate contests which begin Feb. 20 at Colorado State University. The team is coached by Joanna Hergenreder, assistant professor in animal science.
Dr. Doug Smith, NCTA’s head of the animal science and agricultural education programs, says many students will be volunteering at the Cattlemen’s Classic in Kearney during the Feb. 12-21 activities. This annual event showcases the Midwest’s beef cattle industry in open division contests, 4-H and FFA youth “junior” beef cattle shows, and livestock judging. Historically, NCTA is actively involved in this industry forum and we will be there again in 2016.
NCTA’s agricultural education students who will someday be our state’s FFA advisors and ag teachers will assist at the Classic’s FFA Day on Feb. 17. On Feb. 18, NCTA beef production classes will there too, helping at the show ring or gaining some hands-on experience in preparing cattle for some of Nebraska’s exhibitors in the Open Class contests.
Our Aggie Livestock Judging team members will be volunteers during the annual livestock judging contest. The students are influential mentors to younger youth from 4-H clubs and FFA chapters throughout Nebraska. NCTA will again host an information booth so look for our students and recruiters at Cattlemen’s Quarters, booth 26 in the Ag Pavilion. You might also see some of the NCTA stock dog club members and agribusiness students working at the Classic.
This is a great time for Nebraska’s beef cattle industry, and an excellent teaching opportunity for our students to exercise their leadership and academic skills. I am proud of their professionalism and campus outreach.
The NCTA crops judging team also kicks off the season this weekend with Dr. Brad Ramsdale taking the team to Iowa State University. The crops team has steadily progressed in its successes over the past decade and earned second place at nationals in 2015.
Good luck, Aggies, in all of your contests and industry service events this week!