Caring for campus and Nebraskans

Caring for campus and Nebraskans

A blizzard swept high winds with heavy snow accumulations across northern Nebraska on March 13, creating hardships for many ranchers during calving. (M. Crawford / NCTA News)
A blizzard swept high winds with heavy snow accumulations across northern Nebraska on March 13, creating hardships for many ranchers during calving. (M. Crawford / NCTA News)

March 19, 2019

By NCTA Dean Ron Rosati, Ph.D.

CURTIS, Neb. – The resiliency of Nebraska’s agriculture industry and her people including our college community at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis is facing a rigorous challenge.

The phrase “Nebraska Strong” has been the rallying cry this past week since a harsh blizzard on March 13 followed by catastrophic flooding to about two-thirds of the Cornhusker state.

The NCTA campus and Curtis, located in Frontier County in southwestern Nebraska, incurred little damage. We did not receive a blizzard nor extensive rainfall.

Muddy conditions have made some agricultural activities challenging for area producers and our livestock around campus.

March 18-22 is Spring Break for the University of Nebraska system, which includes our NCTA students. However, due to the storms, extensive flooding and adverse travel conditions as students were preparing to leave NCTA on March 15, some students needed to delay their departure from Curtis. 

Over the weekend, when most would typically travel to their home areas, about 25 students stayed in the residence halls. We kept food service and lodging open.

By Tuesday of this week, 15 of those Aggies were able to safely reach their families and destinations. At UNL in Lincoln, they reported about 400 students remained on campus.

Our NCTA livestock and animals are well cared for, students are safe, and everyone is asking, “How can we help our NCTA families and Nebraska communities with their immediate needs? What can we do individually or collectively to help?”

As recovery efforts and impact assessments are underway across the state, NCTA’s campus and Curtis community extends its concern, resources and assistance.

On Tuesday, the public is invited to NCTA Nebraska Disaster Relief Fundraiser from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Curtis Memorial Community Center. Funds raised that night will be split toward disaster relief efforts established by the Nebraska Cattlemen and Nebraska Farm Bureau.

 

Classes will resume on Monday, March 25 and we are prepared to help our students and their families now and upon their return.  We know it may be a long recovery in the weeks, months and years ahead for Nebraskans.

I speak for all of us at NCTA.  Yes, we are Nebraska Strong, and we are Aggie Strong.

NCTA Mission:  The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is devoted to a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology, and related industries. The college provides open access to innovative technical education resulting in associate degrees, certificates, and other credentials.

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