Aggies set pace in 2021
NCTA Dean’s Message by Larry Gossen, Ph.D.
Thank you, Curtis community, for the warm welcome to Aggies beginning their college careers at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture!
Students enjoyed the New Student Orientation weekend, becoming familiar with the community, businesses, churches, and the region’s recreational sites.
We are grateful to the Medicine Valley Chamber of Commerce for welcome packets. I appreciate representatives from community groups and the pastors of local churches who met and mingled at the Welcome Picnic last Sunday.
Students began fall classes August 23. By week’s end all had settled into their academic programs, started exploring which student clubs they might join, and even had a first dance in The Barn, a tradition for the first Thursday night at NCTA.
Health Measures
Each of us who are regularly on campus - students, faculty, staff and NCTA partners - helped establish a baseline status for Covid-19 by taking a saliva-based pre-entry screening.
After performing 302 tests between Aug. 19 and Aug. 26, we had only one positive test for a positivity rate of .331 %.
All test results are confidential. Although NCTA does not require vaccinations or facial masks, they are highly recommended.
NCTA is proceeding as normal for travel and campus events. Competitive academic teams and groups may travel to contests and field trips. Recruiters plan to attend nearly 35 college fairs or recruiting sessions in Nebraska. We test twice weekly for those who travel or interact with campus groups.
My mantra is “protect our bubble” so that NCTA can continue to offer in-person classes. We plan to proceed in hosting public events for FFA, plus the popular Discovery Days on Oct. 5 and Nov. 15.
Aggies at Nebraska State Fair
Labor Day Weekend at the Nebraska State Fair promises to be another fantastic showcase of Nebraska agriculture and youth.
Aggie freshman and sophomore livestock judging teams volunteered at 4-H livestock shows Aug. 27-29th and return to Grand Island for the FFA contests this weekend.
Look for NCTA veterinary technology students at the Livestock Birthing Pavilion. They are volunteers assisting the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. If unable to attend in person, there is a livestream from the birthing pavilion and of livestock shows at https://www.statefair.org/livestreams.
NCTA Stock Dog club competes or assists at the Outback Regional Stock Dog Trials this Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m. Semi-finals are at 6 p.m. Saturday with finals at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Our Collegiate Cattlemen will serve beef meals at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Pit on Saturday from 3-9 p.m. This is a great opportunity for our students to serve the industry and educate consumers.
Support Aggie teams
Next Monday and Tuesday, sports enthusiasts can enjoy some Aggie fun outdoors, right here in Curtis.
Monday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. --Aggie Shotgun Team hosts a Sporting Clays Open at the Curtis Gun Club. Come out and shoot some clays, as the Aggies raise funds for new shooting vests and supplies. Buy 50 clays or an unlimited number for a $20 or $60 donation.
Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6:30 p.m. – Aggie Rodeo Team hosts a Round Robin Team Roping at Mill Park. Action is limited to 10 headers and 10 heelers. Funds support the Aggie traveling team. Register in advance with Jaden Clark or at the NCTA Rodeo Team Facebook page.
Enjoy Labor Day Weekend. Get out to support the NCTA Aggies in Curtis or at the Nebraska State Fair!
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.
NCTA Events:
Sept. 3-4: Outback Stock Dog Trials at Nebraska State Fair
Sept. 4: NCTA Collegiate Cattle, State Fair Beef Pit
Sept. 6: Aggie Sporting Clays Open, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Curtis Gun Club
Sept. 7: NCTA Open Round Robin Team Roping, 6:30 p.m., Mill Park
Sept. 10-11: Aggie Rodeo to River Falls, Wisconsin
Sept. 11: Aggie Stock Dog Club at Wellfleet Fall Festival
Sept. 18-19: NCTA Stock Dog Trials, 8 a.m., LTC, Curtis