Aggies ride for the home stretch

Aggies ride for the home stretch

NCTA Professor Jo Hergenreder coaches a rider with the NCTA Ranch Horse Team during a workout on campus. (Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication)
NCTA Professor Jo Hergenreder coaches a rider with the NCTA Ranch Horse Team during a workout on campus. (Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication)

April 10, 2018

NCTA Dean’s Column by Ron Rosati, Ph.D.

The Aggies are on the final run to the home stretch of their academic year!

From working horses to stock dogs, rodeo to agronomy, cattle breeding to entrepreneurship seminars, and so much more, our students are extremely busy caring for livestock and finishing projects.

Classes, team sports, field trips and educational outreach are all being packed into these final two weeks at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis before final exams begin on April 26th. Then, graduation is May 3rd.

NCTA students involved in equine-related activities will be spread across three locations this weekend.

In one of NCTA’s busiest multi-day runs yet, the Aggie staff, faculty and, most certainly our students, will be competing and educating the public at events in McCook, Omaha and Spearfish, South Dakota.

NCTA academic enrichment activities will include:

April 12-15 in Omaha – NCTA students from the Veterinary Technology Systems division will be in Omaha, coordinating public education and showcasing NCTA’s equine-related programs in animal health. The 2018 International Horse Exposition brings thousands of equine owners and competitors, vendors and spectators to the huge show and educational expo at the Century Link Center.

You can find our NCTA students at a large booth in the north corner of the Education Center at “EquiMania” with educational displays. Over the four days, three faculty instructors and 12 students are representing equine health, veterinary technology, animal health and all areas of NCTA’s academic programs which includes hundreds of school children on educational tours.

The Aggies are presenting materials created by three NCTA faculty: Ricky Sue Barnes, DVM, Darcy Moreland, DVM, and Professor Judy Bowmaster-Cole.  A color-coded horse skull will be used as a wonderful exhibit for teaching school children about science.

Other exhibits will include the gastrointestinal tract from a horse, and x-rays of bones found in horse legs and feet. Many of these educational materials were developed with a $10,000 grant made to NCTA for the International Horse Expo displays.

Expo hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and admission is free to the public.  Additionally, horses from around the globe are competing in dressage and jumping events during four days. 

 

April 13-15 in McCook – NCTA Ranch Horse Team kicks off a three-day horse show in McCook by hosting amateurs, professionals and collegians at the 2018 Punchy in Pink Spring Round-up.

Professor Joanna Hergenreder and her ranch horse students are tackling a major feat by once again organizing and running a significant working ranch horse competition and outreach events. This 2018 version is the first NCTA Ranch horse event sanctioned by multiple regional and national equine associations including the American Quarter Horse Association.

Thirteen NCTA students will be competing and helping to manage the show with more than 130 competitors registered.

Stop by the spacious indoor arenas at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds for cutting contests on Friday afternoon and an evening program for equine sports psychology.

The working cow contest and performance classes run in two indoor arenas on Saturday, with cow work and conformation classes on Sunday.

A highlight on Saturday is the evening's unique “bra race” for horseback riders to run obstacles and timed events sporting a cargo of water balloons.  Proceeds go toward cancer education with the Working Ranch Cowboys Association Punchy in Pink campaign.

It should be a great weekend for our Aggie students and horse lovers of all ages!

April 13-14 in Spearfish, S.D. – NCTA Aggie Rodeo is in action for their second rodeo this spring, this time at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., reports Rodeo Coach Taylor Rossenbach of Curtis.

Nine Aggies competed on April 6-7 at South Dakota State University’s rodeo in Brookings, S.D. Rio Whited of North Platte won third-place in the average in team roping, and Tara Spatz of Trotwood, Ohio was fifth in break-away roping.

Find NCTA returning to Nebraska rodeo action in Lincoln on April 20-21 when the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hosts the region's contest at the Lancaster County Event Center.

Enjoy the great outdoors in beautiful Nebraska this week, and come out to help cheer on the NCTA Aggies at the Punchy in Pink Spring Roundup at McCook!

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