NCTA salutes county fairs
July 27, 2016
Dean’s Column by Ron Rosati, PhD
We are fortunate in Nebraska to experience outstanding youth development opportunities such as 4-H and FFA. Bravo to those wearing green and white or blue and gold!
This week I send a salute on behalf of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis to the strong leadership role of adult volunteers, instructors, advisors and all family members who give countless hours to our 4-H and FFA programs. Thank you for your contributions!
NCTA values the career skills and leadership development these two programs offer. At the collegiate level, we too, heavily emphasize team-building and individual career development programs.
Our NCTA 4-H and FFA Club encourages participants as mentors, leaders, and exhibitors at the county level, and also the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island and Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock Exhibition at Omaha.
University of Nebraska colleagues in Nebraska Extension are leaders in youth and rural development. NCTA faculty, staff and families are quite active in Frontier County 4-H and Extension programs.
In fact, just last week we concluded county fair activities at Stockville and here on campus. On July 31, Frontier County hosts its second round of county competitions at the Eustis Fair and Corn Show. Congratulations to the families and volunteers at Eustis who are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Eustis show.
NCTA also benefits greatly by the opportunity to house the Frontier County Extension Office on campus in Ag Hall. Many 4-H programs are here in the college facilities – which are open to the public for programming and special events throughout the year.
Livestock, crops, computer skills, shooting sports, stock dogs, the Curtis community garden, animal health and veterinary technology, business management, public speaking and demonstrations, and much, much more found in the array of 4-H and FFA subjects also are experiences here at NCTA.
Some of you who exhibit livestock at county fairs or will at next month’s Nebraska State Fair may have the opportunity this summer to interact with members of our NCTA Livestock Judging Team or Dr. Doug Smith, our NCTA animal science professor and team coach.
Dr. Smith and several of his skilled livestock judges (and oral reasons evaluators) are familiar faces in the show rings of Nebraska and nearby.
No matter your chosen subject matter as a 4-H or FFA member, I applaud your work ethic and interest in gaining experience as an exhibitor. Keep going. Continue learning. And, know that your hard work pays off for many years down the road.
Congratulations to county fair exhibitors and their families!
Upcoming Events:
Aug. 2 – NCTA Community Advisory meeting, 12 p.m., NCTA Ed Center
Aug. 3 – Appreciation Lunch at the NCTA Deli, Student Union
Aug. 5 – End of NCTA summer session
NCTA Mission:
The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is devoted to a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology, food and related industries. The college provides open access to innovative technical education resulting in associate degrees, certificates, diplomas and other credentials.