Honoring our heritage

Sept. 19, 2019                                                        

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

It has been a whirlwind for our Aggie students again this past week.  The next one looks even busier with many opportunities for our NCTA students, faculty and staff to again be great ambassadors for the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture!

This weekend the college participates at the local community celebration in our rural town of Curtis with the 2019 Fall Festival.

Watch for NCTA students volunteering at fun activities at City Park and around town. Don’t miss an NCTA float or two in the parade on Saturday morning.  You may just see our veterinary technician students and some pets walking (or riding) on Main Street.

The agricultural heritage of the region is cause of celebration. So is our mission in rural Nebraska and for educating thousands of youth and young adults during the 106-year history of the “ag campus on the hill.” Let’s celebrate our heritage and town!

Husker Harvest Days

Last week for three days near Wood River, our Aggies from NCTA also had an excellent opportunity to promote Nebraska agriculture.  I am extremely proud of the students who assisted as volunteers in the University of Nebraska building and in the “energy tent” next door.

Our Aggie students partnered with individuals from Nebraska Extension, NU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and our tent hosts the Nebraska Public Power District. Our students shared information about our NCTA academic programs and interacted with nearly 1,000 FFA youth, our alumni and guests.

In particular, a new experience for several of our welding and irrigation technology students was an opportunity to assist at a virtual welding simulator trailer of the American Welding Society.

Four Aggies got to show the public about their skills gained in the NCTA agricultural mechanics courses. Our friends at NTV at Axtell and Nebraska Rural Radio (KRVN) also stopped by to film NCTA Aggie students in action.

Amanda Schmidt, an ag education major from Stanton, Nebraska, and Jarrod Tuttle, an irrigation technician major from Eltopia, Washington both gave excellent, insightful interviews on the air!

Aggie rodeo

NCTA Aggie Rodeo has started with placing cowboys at each of its season openers.  Quentin Anderson of Pierce placed fifth in the team roping at River Falls, Wisconsin.

And, last weekend at his first collegiate rodeo, Nathan Burnett of Shelton, Nebraska, got second place in saddle bronc riding in the Buffalo Bill Arena at North Platte. He is currently fourth in the Great Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

The Aggies will travel to Fort Dodge, Iowa on Sept. 27-28 when Iowa Central Community College hosts athletes from the Great Plains Region. Thank to J.R. Dack of Curtis for serving as the team’s coach this semester.

Until next week, Go Aggies!

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

Upcoming events:

Sept. 20-21:  NCTA Aggies observe Curtis Fall Festival

Sept. 20-22:  Aggie Shotgun Sports contest. Lincoln

Sept. 21:  Aggie Livestock Judging at Ber-Mis contest, Bertrand

Sept. 23: College Fair in Hastings

Sept. 24: College Fairs at Kearney and McCook

Sept. 24 & 26:  Animal Science Field Days, North Platte

Sept. 25: College Fairs at North Platte and Cozad

Sept. 26: College Fair at Grand Island

Sept. 26: Frontier County 4-H Connect the Dots, Career Readiness Day

Sept. 27:  North Platte 8th Grade to NCTA

Sept. 27-28: Aggie Rodeo to Fort Dodge, Iowa

Sept. 27-29:  Aggies host Prairie Circuit Conference Clay Shoot, North Platte

Sept. 29-29: Aggie Livestock Team competes at Ak-Sar-Ben, Grand Island

Sept. 29:  Nebraska LEAD group to NCTA