Aggie success worth repeating

By Andela Taylor, NCTA recruiting coordinator

Success is worth repeating!

Our Aggie students are sharing significant experiences here at campus and as they travel from Curtis representing the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

Agronomy students placed fourth among 18 colleges at American Society of Agronomy annual meetings, thanks to the outstanding preparation in the classroom and field laboratories by Professor Brad Ramsdale.

The NCTA Ranch Horse Team took eight Aggies to their season finale at Torrington, Wyoming, where four students competed in their first college show. Family and friends traveled, too, cheering on their students and Coach Joanna Hergenreder.

Four students from our Agricultural Education program joined Professor Doug Smith at Kearney last Saturday for the Ag Ed Symposium for FFA members, their advisors and future classroom teachers.

Our Stock Dog Team drew praise and excellent training techniques from Kent and Lori Herbel in a weekend clinic here at the Livestock Teaching Center. Alumni and current students spent two days in the arena gaining even more knowledge about safely and efficiently herding livestock. 

We are fortunate each week to share more success stories from NCTA. Recently, we hosted nearly 700 FFA members, advisors, and chaperones for two days of Career Development Events on campus.

On Monday, Gaylene Stinman spearheaded our Student Services Team, Aggie Ambassadors, faculty and recruiters in welcoming 59 prospective students, their families and some school groups to our Aggie Discovery Day. Of those students who will be high school graduates in 2022, 88% of those college prospects in attendance made their applications to become NCTA Aggies.

Due to efforts of many, the momentum continues in sharing the great news of our successful NCTA students and graduates.

A Dog Spa, Horse Clinic

A second Dog Spa Day for the fall semester is this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Veterinary Technology complex. Dogs (with current rabies vaccinations) will be bathed, have nails trimmed and ears cleaned by members of the Student Technicians of Veterinary Medicine Association. Bring Fido and support our Vet Techs!

Clinician Sherman Tegtmeier returns to our LTC arena on Saturday and Sunday for training sessions in horsemanship and reining. Individual and group classes aid our students and public partners for this special event hosted by the NCTA Ranch Horse Team. Although spaces are filled, individuals may be able to audit by contacting Coach Joanna Hergenreder.

Meet you in McCook

Regional recruiting expands this week in neighboring Red Willow County at the McCook Farm, Ranch, and Hemp show with a friends-and-family approach.

Starting Friday, find our recruiters and Aggies at the two-day expo at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds, booth #686 in the Kiplinger Arena. We are fortunate that some of our NCTA alumni are vital cogs in the annual show.

Darren and Tana Dale founded Star Expos and continue their support of their alma mater by ensuring NCTA can be a part of this showcase in agriculture. This year, they’ve added another NCTA graduate to their team.

Chance Koetter began as a volunteer while a FFA freshman at McCook Senior High. Chance graduated from NCTA in 2017 as a diversified agriculture major. His primary Aggie advisors were Drs. Ramsdale and Smith, and now-retired Professor Emeritus Jo Bek. We hope students and alumni will stop by the NCTA booth to say hello!

Friends and Family

Students from across Nebraska first learn about NCTA from their friends and family, along with high school educators or leaders in youth programs.

Aggie recruiters have interacted with area students at large and small events. We were at Husker Harvest Days for three days in September, Connect-the-Dots events with our partners in Nebraska Extension, and many college fairs around the state including McCook and Southwest High Schools.

Our goal regionally is to be seen as the first and best choice for everything related to agriculture. That includes agriculture education and animal health experiences through our highly regarded veterinary technology program, and other academic units.

Students may imagine a college experience in a bigger place, but once they see our campus, meet with professors, and tour the high-tech facilities we have at NCTA, they (and their parents) can be confident they will be extremely well served right here in a place that was built for them.

Have a great week and let me know if you would like a campus tour to talk “all things agriculture” at NCTA!

NCTA Campus Events:

Nov. 19-20:  NCTA at the McCook Farm, Ranch & Hemp Expo, 9-7 Friday, 9-4 Saturday, Red Willow County Fairgrounds,

Nov. 20-21:  Sherman Tegtmeier Reining & Horsemanship Clinic, NCTA Livestock Teaching Center arena

Nov. 21:  NCTA Dog Spa Day, 9-3, Veterinary Teaching Clinic, (walk-ins welcome, Dogs must have current rabies vaccination)

Nov. 24:  NCTA Student Holiday, Offices are Open

Nov. 25-26:  NCTA Campus Closed for Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 30:  NCTA Ag Business Club Soup Supper & Cornhole Tournament, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Curtis Community Center

Part of the University of Nebraska system, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a two-year institution with a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology and related industries. NCTA is known for its affordable tuition, high job-placement rate for its graduates, and for the success of student teams in competitive activities including crops judging, ranch horse events, livestock judging, shotgun sports, stock dog trials, and intercollegiate rodeo. The college is consistently ranked as one of the best two-year schools in the nation.