A Fall Roundup

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

Time has flown by for all of us the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, and here we are with six weeks of classes left in the semester before final exams.

Come November, it’s easy for students to lose focus with so many activities and demands on their time, and much harder to realign priorities if one tends to easily stray from the path of self-discipline.

Our faculty work hard on engaging students at all levels in classroom and laboratory experiences. Here around Curtis, our local residents have great opportunity to interact with Aggie students.

One recent example was the 5K Fun Run (or walk) for Halloween. Students in the Human Relations class taught by Professor Eric Reed found that planning, interpersonal skills, communications, and working with others are important life skills.

Aggies riding herd as they gather cattle from pastures. Veterinary technicians administering vaccinations to piglets. Agronomy students calculating the rate of herbicide for weed control in a crop. Future agricultural educators teaching youngsters about livestock on the farm.

Leadership experiences provided in classrooms, at work, with Aggie clubs and teams are key to student success. Our mission is to ensure we are doing our very best in providing these opportunities.

National FFA

Outstanding efforts and leadership were celebrated last week at the 94^th Annual FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis. NCTA had a great turnout for our Collegiate Connection exhibit. Thanks to all who stopped by to say hello to Andela and Rulon. FFA members, chapter advisors, Aggie alumni and many new friends greeted NCTA.

Congratulations to all FFA programs including seven of our NCTA Aggie students who received their American Degrees from their programs during high school. A shout out to all 140 Nebraskans earning this achievement.

Additionally, in case you missed it, national honors were awarded to individuals and chapters who frequently participate in District FFA events here at the college.

Grady Johnson, a graduate of Holdrege FFA, was one of four recipients of the American Star Farmer degree. The Holdrege FFA Chapter earned a 3-Star Chapter Award.

Congratulations to Eustis-Farnam FFA Chapter for receiving gold as 4^th place team in Food Science and Natalie Malcom as 6^th place individual, plus gold and 6^th place team in Agronomy. Bravo to Imperial FFA for gold and 2^nd place team in Parliamentary Procedure, and silver place team in Marketing Plan.

Helene Keiser of Gothenburg FFA received silver individual for Prepared Public Speaking. Mekenna Fisher of Sutherland FFA received silver individual in Extemporaneous Speaking.

Nebraska’s Three-Star Chapters are Franklin, Holdrege, Humphrey, Lakeview, O’Neill, Overton, Waverly, and Wayne. Two-Star Chapters are Blue Hill, Tri-County and Wallace.

In the Agriscience Fair, Broken Bow FFA members Zackery Halloway and Lucas Bell earned 2^nd place and gold medals for their exhibit in Power, Structural and Technical Systems.

From Sumner-Eddyville-Miller FFA, Spencer Walahoski earned gold and 7^th place individual in Meat Science.

Although these highlights recognize FFA chapters which frequently join us at NCTA, many other high honors and awards were spread across Nebraska’s chapters. I’ve enjoyed seeing so many photographs on social media from FFA chapters and friends. They are memories for life!

Around Campus

NCTA Career Fair is Thursday. Employers invite students or anyone seeking employment. Stop by The Barn (student union) between 9 a.m. and noon.

District FFA at NCTA:  District 9 Career Development Events for Livestock Evaluation, Agronomy, and Farm Business Management will be Monday, Nov. 8. District 11 is on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

A Grazing Lands Traveling Road Show open to the public is Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 5-9 p.m. at the Education Center. Some Aggie students will attend for class credit.

A Stock Dog Herding Clinic is Nov. 12-14 in the Livestock Teaching Center. Contact Leighlynn Obermiller for details.

Agronomy in action

Four Aggie students and Agronomy Professor Brad Ramsdale will represent NCTA this weekend at the American Society of Agronomy national meetings in Salt Lake City, Utah. ASA’s undergraduate student program, Students of Agronomy, Soil and Environmental Sciences, includes a collegiate crops contest. Our NCTA Crops Team will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience at this national event. Good luck, Aggies!

Aggie Events:

Nov. 4:  NCTA Career Fair, 9 a.m. Student Union (public)

Nov. 5:  Aggie Agronomy to Salt Lake City, Utah

Nov. 5:  Aggie Ranch Horse Team to NJC Showdown, Torrington, Wyo.

Nov. 8:  District 9 FFA, Career Development Events, NCTA Campus

Nov. 9:  NCTA Round Robin Team Roping, 7 p.m., LTC Indoor Arena (public)

Nov. 10:  District 11 FFA judging contests, NCTA Campus

Nov. 10:  Grazing Lands Program, 4:45 p.m., Ed Center (public)

Nov. 11:  Veterans Day, NCTA is in session

Nov. 12-14:  Stock Dog Clinic, Kent Herbel, LTC Arena (preregister)

Nov. 15:  NCTA Discovery Day, 8:30 a.m., Ed Center (preregister)

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.