Celebrating 4-H and our Aggies

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

Each week is a significant one at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. Our students are engaged in academics and campus activities which emphasize their interests in agriculture and veterinary technology.

This next week carries double significance as we observe National 4-H Week on Oct. 3 to 9.

In the midst of the observance is our first Discovery Day for prospective students on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

National 4-H Week

The theme for the 2021 4-H Week is “Find your Spark.”

Both events next week feature opportunities which can empower youth of all ages with skills for their lifetime.

Through 4-H, youth can tap their potential and leadership by exploring career paths. As they engage in 4-H projects and skills development throughout their elementary years and into high school, their career interests become clearer.

Youth gain a passion during individual and club opportunities. At NCTA, we emphasize experiential learning in academics, both in the classroom and laboratory. These augment college experiences.

NCTA has a Collegiate 4-H program which supports our Aggie students in their endeavors.

Happy 4-H Week! We salute 4-H members, their families, and the local leaders and volunteers who create that spark for success.

Discovery Days Oct. 5 and Nov. 15

Discovery Days theme is “NCTA: Where your passion become a career.”  Prospective college students are invited to attend Discovery Day on Tuesday. Student ambassadors play a key role in welcoming visiting students, their parents and friends, to campus for tours, academic overviews, and details on financial aid.

Preregistration is needed by Friday for the Oct. 5 lunch and program packet. See https://ncta.unl.edu/discovery-days.

NU4NE fee waiver

Nebraska students applying to attend NCTA or other University of Nebraska campuses in fall, 2022 can apply by Sunday, Oct. 3 and have the $45 application fee waived through the NU4NE campaign. See details in the Blue Box at https://ncta.unl.edu/.

Aggie Teams compete

NCTA students had another busy weekend of academic enhancement opportunities for Aggie Teams. Experiences through travel, competitions and meeting other collegians through a team or club reinforces their career skills and interests.

Livestock Judging:   Olivia Nyberg of Stromsburg and Megan Spahr of Wayne are Aggie sophomores who competed at the Aksarben Livestock Judging Contest in Grand Island. Cattle evaluation topped their classes. NCTA’s freshmen assisted at the contest and listened to oral reasons from 4-H contestants.

The next contest is Thursday and Friday at the Flint Hills Mid-America Classic at Hutchinson, Kansas. On Saturday, Aggies will assist at the FFA BerMis Livestock Contest at Bertrand.

Aggie Rodeo:   Nathan Burnett of Shelton won saddle bronc riding in the short-go at Ft. Dodge, Iowa.   NCTA ends the fall season Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in two rodeos at Dickenson State University, North Dakota.

The NCTA Round Robin Team Ropings continue each Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Mill Park.

Stock Dog Team:   The NCTA Stock Dog Team joined the Outback Stock Dog Association in hosting the season’s opener on Sept. 25-26 at home. Five students competing in the Novice Class were Darci Reimers, Lily Calkins, Aubrey Kelley, Allie Gerking and Lauren Kelley. The next public trial is Oct. 9-10 in Curtis. Spectators are invited to watch the dogs and handlers in action at the campus indoor arena.

Shotgun Sports:   The Aggies hosted a three-day Prairie Circuit Conference meet near North Platte with 204 athletes competing. Two Aggies led the NCTA team with in the five categories of skeet, double skeet, trap, double trap and sporting clays.

Emily Miller of Norton, Kansas was Conference High Overall Female plus Conference High Overall Freshwoman. Kaden Bryant of Firth, Nebraska, ranked in the Conference Top Ten in Men’s Competition.

The team competes Oct. 2 -3 at the Concordia University Sporting Clay meet hosted at Brainard.

Aggie Events:

Sept. 28:  Round Robin Public Team Roping, 6:30 p.m., Mill Park

Sept.30-Oct. 2:  NCTA Rodeo Team at Dickenson State Rodeo, North Dakota

Sept. 30-Oct.1:  NCTA Livestock Judging at Hutchinson, Kansas

Oct. 1-3: NCTA Ranch Horse Team to Fall Classic, Elbert, Colo.

Oct. 2-3:  NCTA Shotgun Sports to Concordia Sporting Clay Meet, Brainard

Oct. 3-9: National 4-H Week

Oct. 5:  NCTA Public Discovery Day, 9 a.m., Education Center

Oct. 5:  Round Robin Public Team Roping, 6:30 p.m., Mill Park

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.