Aggies at National FFA

Aggies at National FFA

Aggies who receive their American FFA Degrees meet with NCTA Dean Larry Gossen in advance of the National FFA Convention. From left, John Ford, Centura; Ryan Liakos and Braden Johnson, Bayard; Keaton Moore, Ansley; Cassidy Frey, Superior; and Rylie Borgerding, Valley Heights. Alexxandra Malchow, Beatrice (Tri County FFA) was unavailable. (Photo by Annie Bassett / NCTA News)
Aggies who receive their American FFA Degrees meet with NCTA Dean Larry Gossen in advance of the National FFA Convention. From left, John Ford, Centura; Ryan Liakos and Braden Johnson, Bayard; Keaton Moore, Ansley; Cassidy Frey, Superior; and Rylie Borgerding, Valley Heights. Alexxandra Malchow, Beatrice (Tri County FFA) was unavailable. (Photo by Annie Bassett / NCTA News)

NCTA Dean’s Message by Larry Gossen, Ph.D.

As you read my weekly Dean’s Message from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, hundreds of Nebraskans are headed to Indianapolis for the 94th Annual FFA Convention and Expo.

After sharing much of our educational and youth leadership activities by virtual methods over the past year, we are looking forward to a “hybrid” convention.

Preliminary competitions, officer interviews, team and individual projects were virtual. Finals are on site at the Oct. 27-30 convention.

This hybrid version is the best solution to conducting “For the Future. For All” as the theme in 2021.

NCTA and between 800-1,000 Nebraskans will be in attendance. Across the Cornhusker State, many FFA members, their advisors, parents, educators, organizers, news partners and expo vendors are driving or flying into Indianapolis.

From the college, NCTA will be represented at several levels in meetings, competitions, and a popular College Connection at the expo.

Animal Science Associate Professor and Livestock Judging Team Coach Doug Smith, Ph.D., serves on the National FFA Livestock Evaluation Committee. The group is responsible for hosting and conducting the Livestock Judging Contest. Preliminaries were virtual earlier with the final contest at Indianapolis.

Recruiters Andela Taylor, Rulon Taylor and yours truly will be driving out and back with the College Connection display, supplies, and recruiting materials to share with prospective college students.

Find the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at booth #2702 in the “Collegiate Connection” of the Expo Hall.

(It’s easy to find with map and full convention schedule at https://convention.ffa.org/).

We’re just one section over from the always-popular FFA Shopping Mall. Expo hours are Wednesday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Over the years, NCTA has been noticeable in the national arena at the FFA Conventions. It’s not uncommon for our admissions team and recruiters to hear that a current student, particularly those from outside of Nebraska, first heard about NCTA at nationals.

Even FFA members from Nebraska, who have been known to be leaning toward a college career at NCTA, solidify their plans once they see the enthusiasm and presence of Aggie students and staff at National FFA.

Having spent my entire career in agriculture education, in Kansas classrooms and FFA programs, then with National FFA, Inc., for 13 years, and now the past 2 ½ years in Nebraska, my experiences and opportunities with the blue and gold are vast.

Andela, Rulon and I look forward to sharing the outstanding news from Curtis with guests to our NCTA exhibit, at #2702.

Recruiters have their games and fun questions ready for FFA members. They’ll be sharing information about Aggie opportunities and have fun giveaways. The FFA Advisors will not be left out.

American Degrees and FFA Finalists

Nebraska has 140 FFA members who will receive their American FFA Degree on Saturday morning. Bravo to  each recipient earning this high honor!

Last week, I held a small reception for NCTA students who earned their American Degree. The seven are: Rylie Borgerding, Valley Heights FFA (Kansas); John Ford, Centura FFA; Cassidy Frey, Superior FFA; Braden Johnson, Bayard FFA; Ryan Liakos, Bayard FFA; Alexxandra Malchow, Tri County FFA; and Keaton Moore, Ansley FFA.

Luke Krabel of Doniphan (Adams Central FFA), a past Nebraska state vice president, is running for a national office. Grady Johnson of Holdrege FFA is a finalist for American Star Farmer.

Chapters as Finalist for LDEs and CDEs:

Agricultural Communication – West Holt FFA

Agronomy – Eustis Farnam FFA

Extemporaneous Speaking – Sutherland FFA

Farm and Agribusiness Management – Chadron FFA

Floriculture – David City FFA

Food Science and Technology – Eustis Farnam FFA

Marketing Plan – Imperial FFA

Nursery and Landscape – Norris FFA

Parliamentary Procedure – Imperial FFA

Agriscience Finalists:

Animal Systems Division 2 - Brooke Forre and Alee Luna, Allen FFA

Environmental Services and Natural Resources Systems Division 2 - Drew Paulsen and William Janssen, Syracuse FFA

Plant Systems Division 2 - Tyler Tegtmeier and Hayden Binder, Pawnee City FFA

Plant Systems Division 4 - Anna Lillenas and Kinsley Oestmann, Johnson-Brock FFA

Power, Structural, and Technical Systems Division 3 - Zachary Hawley, Johnson-Brock FFA

Power, Structural, and Technical Systems Division 5 - Keri Sanne, Norfolk FFA

Power, Structural, and Technical Systems Division 6 - Zackery Holloway and Lucas Bell, Broken Bow FFA

Proficiency Finalist:

Outdoor Recreation - Ethan Uhlir, St Paul FFA

To each of these FFA members, their chapters, advisors, and families, I extend a hearty congratulations! The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture says the Future is Yours!

Aggie Events:

Oct. 28:  NCTA 5K of Fright Halloween Run or Walk, 4:30 registration, Ed Center (public)

Oct. 30:  NCTA Truck and Car Show, 3 p.m., Ed Center parking lot (public)

Nov. 2:  NCTA Round Robin Team Roping, 7 p.m., Mill Park or LTC Arena. (public)

Nov. 4:  NCTA Career Fair, 9 a.m. Career Fair, Ed Center

Nov. 11: Thank you on Veterans' Day!

Nov. 11: FFA District 11 Events, NCTA Campus

Nov. 15:  NCTA Discovery Day 

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.

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