Boot camp for agriculture teachers, coaches

By NCTA NEWS

High school agriculture teachers and FFA coaches can take summer short courses on June 26-28 and June 28-30 in Curtis.

Instructors will receive guided, hands-on training at the Ag Teacher Boot Camp and Coaches Clinic at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

The two-day workshops will give teachers and coaches the basics of meats science, agronomy, livestock evaluation, ag business and equine management, or ag mechanics courses on small engines, equipment hydraulics, AC electrical wiring and DC electrical components.

Courses feature curriculum and study guides for career and leadership development in high school agriculture programs and FFA members.

“Teachers will gain continuing education for their teaching portfolio plus lots of ideas for their classrooms and teaching labs,” said Larry Gossen, NCTA dean.

Back by popular demand, and with financial support to educators from the Nebraska FFA Foundation, NCTA expanded an ag mechanics boot camp from last summer and added the FFA coaching clinics.

Ag teachers reside on campus. Space is limited to 15 participants in each of the two session options (30 per day). The camp is open to teachers outside of Nebraska as well, said Doug Smith, NCTA associate professor in animal science and agricultural education.

Smith is a professor of practice with the University of Nebraska in Animal Science and the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication (ALEC).

Other Boot Camp instructors are:

Joanna Hergenreder, NCTA equine management and Ranch Horse Team Coach

Brad Ramsdale, NCTA agronomy and Crops Judging Team Coach

Mary Rittenhouse, NCTA agribusiness management systems

Chad Schimmels, Eustis-Farnam High School, instructor/coach

Dan Stehlik, NCTA agriculture mechanics

To register or for details, contact Dr. Doug Smith at 308.367.5286 or 281.415.5271 or doug.smith@unl.edu.                                                                                 

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.