Celebrating FFA Week and 4-H Month

Feb. 26, 2020

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

CURTIS, Neb. – Happy FFA Week from our Aggie campus! And, a salute to Nebraska 4-H Month, too!

Programs educating youth for futures in agriculture are highest of priorities for the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. National FFA Week is observed Feb. 22-29.

One of the strongest areas of leadership development and career exploration for Nebraska youngsters begins long before they arrive to campus and become NCTA Aggies.

Our Curtis community and all of the University of Nebraska campuses at Kearney, Lincoln and Omaha benefit greatly by the foundations laid through FFA and 4-H programs. These youth become outstanding leaders, students, goal-oriented individuals.

Nebraska’s high school agricultural education programs and 189 FFA chapters engage nearly 10,000 FFA members across the state. NCTA draws FFA youth from other states, as well.

Equally impressive for agriculture and related industries is Nebraska Extension which coordinates 4-H clubs for youngsters ages 8-18. Nebraska promotes 4-H enrollment and recruits volunteer leaders each February.

Our extension educators in Nebraska deliver school enrichment programs in elementary schools, and career exploration activities through “Connect the Dots” held towns and schools across the state. Watch for Connect the Dots this week and next, in Custer and Hooker Counties, for example.

Here at NCTA, while dozens of our students have been active in both programs, they often join our collegiate 4-H/FFA Club.

Club president Emily Kammerer, an agriculture education major from Sutherland, and her fellow officers and club members, coordinated several fun activities for FFA Week.

In appreciation for NCTA faulty, they served juice and donuts Monday morning to their instructors. And, each day, FFA shares fun and informative trivia questions on social media:

Monday #1 - “How many barrows are born every year in the state of Nebraska?”

Tuesday #2 - “How many servings of French fries will one acre of potatoes produce?”

Wednesday #3 - "How many footballs can one cowhide make?"

(See answers lower below)

The first student to respond claims a prize at the office of Dr. Doug Smith, club advisor and professor of animal science and agricultural education.

Horse Clinic and Discovery Day

Join our Ranch Horse Team and equine students at a horsemanship and reining clinic Saturday and Sunday at the LTC indoor arena. Clinician Sherman Tegtmeier will work with horses and riders in one-on-one sessions.  All time slots are filled, but spectators are welcome to audit the action free of charge.

Potential students and parents are invited to tour campus, learn about college, and much more at NCTA Discovery Day on Monday, March 2. The free event does include lunch so pre-registration is requested at: https://ncta.unl.edu/discovery-days. Do, come and Discover Your Way at NCTA!

About ag trivia - answers are: Zero (barrows are males neutered later), 52,000 servings of fries, and 20 footballs.

I hope to see some of you on campus soon. Happy FFA Week and Nebraska 4-H Month!

NCTA 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.

Upcoming events

Feb. 17 –March 2 - Chuck Schroeder “Elders: Character Over Time”, Ed Center Lobby

Feb. 28 – Mobile Food Pantry, Curtis Community Center, 8 a.m.

Feb. 28 - Aggie Shotgun Sports Team match, North Platte

Feb. 28-29 – Sherman Tegtmeier Horsemanship and Cutting Clinic, Arena

March 2 – NCTA Discovery Day tours and program, 8:30 a.m., Ed Center

March 7 – NCTA Hosts Collegiate Crops Contest

March 7 – Frontier County 4-H Market Beef Weigh-in, Red Barn