Connecting at fairs and reunions

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

Everyone loves a county or state fair!

Exhibits, animals, contests, food, carnivals, games, and often a concert, rodeo or ranch rodeo that fill the bleachers or grandstand.

Frontier County is heading into fair week in two locations, Stockville and Eustis. The two fairs are a longstanding tradition.

The Frontier County Fair & Rodeo begins Saturday at the county fairgrounds in Stockville. All 4-H youth in the county have Shooting Sports contests at 8 a.m. for archery, small bore rifle, and .22 caliber. At 11 a.m. will be BB gun, air pistol and air rifle. Spectators are invited to witness the action.

On Sunday, at 2 p.m. the Eustis Fair & Corn Show hosts the 4-H Public Fashion and Talent Show at the Eustis 4-H Building. On Monday, the only activity is the Shotgun Sports Contest at the Curtis Gun Club.

Nebraska Extension in Frontier County reports there are 215 4-H members with approximately 1,575 entries. That is outstanding participation, which does not include FFA members nor open class entries. Bravo, Frontier County!

Parents and youth will breathe a sigh of relief, perhaps, once the static exhibits are entered on Tuesday. Monday will no doubt be foods baking and last-day final touches on other projects before Tuesday morning and afternoon.

Be sure to take in the horse show on Wednesday, livestock shows on August 5-7, and other fun events which include 4-H Rocket Launch Expos at Stockville, 2 p.m. August 5, and 11 a.m. at Eustis on August 7. The rocket launches are free and spectators should bring a lawn chair.

Members in 4-H robots will also have a public expo to demonstrate their robot. The Frontier County Robotic Expo is August 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Stockville.

Many other counties also will be buzzing with visitors coming to their town or county seat next week. After a year of pandemic and activities, curtailed or limited, it seems Nebraskans are itching to reconnect at their annual fair and community festival. Good luck to all exhibitors at county fairs!

Thanks, fair volunteers!

You’ve heard the proverb. Many hands make light work.

After decades of teaching agricultural education, serving in church or community efforts, and working on team and family projects, I know this to be true. Where would our society be without volunteers and community servants?

Kathy Burr, extension educator, and Mandy Contrerez, administrative assistant, inform and coordinate a well-organized team of volunteers through Frontier County 4-H Council and the County Extension Board. Salute to all!

A shout out to Nebraska Extension and NCTA staff who are among volunteers. Two Aggie students, Melody MacDonald and Taylor Hendrix, are both fair volunteers this year.

Our NCTA team members who assist:

Sue Nutt – Food judge helper & club leader

Jo Popp – Rabbit/Poultry superintendent

Dan Stehlik – Sheep/Goat superintendent

Joanna Hergenreder – Dummy Roping & Trail Horse judge

Alan Taylor – Shotgun Sports leader

Deb Petersen – 4-H Council member & fair volunteer

Taylor Hendrix – Horse show clerk & volunteer

Melody MacDonald – County Fair photographer

Cindy Fritsche – Meal for volunteers

(Thanks to others who pitch in, too)

Celebrate the Sixties

University of Nebraska School of Agriculture (UNSA) high school classes of 1960 to 1970 are gathering Saturday. They convene at 3 p.m. in North Platte for a social and evening dinner.  As Saturday morning and early afternoon is free time, some alumni may wish to visit Curtis and swing by their alma mater.

Aggie alumni are most welcome to drive around campus and take a self-guided tour!  We’ll make sure some of the buildings are open, and if needing a break from the heat or gathering point, the Student Union (old gym) is air conditioned and a convenient venue with nearby parking.

Linda (Shirley) Floro, a Wellfleet native who lives at North Platte, graduated with the Class of ’61 and spearheads the gathering. She reports they last met six years ago. Representatives from each graduating class have been busy contacting their classmates by letters, emails and phone calls. As of Tuesday, Linda said registrations exceeded 200 for alumni, spouses and friends. We wish them a wonderful time, thankful to again get together, reminisce, and spend some time celebrating their high school era and for some, their college years. Welcome Aggies!

NCTA Events:

July 31:  NCTA at Nebraska’s BIG Rodeo, Burwell

July 31 -Aug. 7:  Frontier County Fair & Rodeo, Stockville

July 31:  Curtis Aggies, ‘60s Reunion, North Platte

Aug. 1-8: Eustis Fair & Corn Show, Eustis

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.