NCTA: Year in Review - Part 2

NCTA: Year in Review - Part 2

A highlight for Spring 2022 was NCTA hosting 42 colleges for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture contests in North Platte such as crops judging among the 13 competitions which drew 500 students and their coaches. (NCTA News photo) .
A highlight for Spring 2022 was NCTA hosting 42 colleges for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture contests in North Platte such as crops judging among the 13 competitions which drew 500 students and their coaches. (NCTA News photo) .

January – May 2022

Dean’s Message by Larry Gossen, Ph.D.

Reflection on the past year for our Aggie campus community and the Class of 2022 brought many memories to the fore. Last week in Part 1, we noted a few highlights for May to December 2021 at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

In Part 2, we look at January through May of 2022:

January

  • Academic honors to 55 students on Fall Semester Dean’s List and Honor Roll
  • Spring semester begins January 10
  • Agribusiness students toured entrepreneur businesses such as Camelot Dairy, Colorado, on study trip to National Western Stock Show and Rodeo
  • NCTA Livestock Judging Team assists with National Western Stock Show judging contests
  • IANR Employee Service Awards:  25 years, Linda Cole, David Jibben, Mo Khamouna; 20 years, Mary Rittenhouse; 10 years, Douglas Smith; 5 years, Josi Arnold
  • NCTA met alumni and prospective students at the Colorado Farm Show, Greeley
  • Seven Aggie student workers hired for NCTA Ranch/Farm Crew
  • NCTA Collegiate Farm Bureau attended 2022 Young Farmer-Rancher Conference

February

  • FFA Career Development Events Feb. 2
  • NCTA Aggie store in Ag Hall has new merchandise; staffed by three student workers
  • Vet Tech students host pancake breakfast fundraiser
  • NCTA livestock team and recruiters at Cattlemen Classic
  • FFA Week features profiles of NCTA alumni - agricultural educators
  • Crops Judging opens season, 1st place at West Texas A&M
  • Six Aggies attend Women in Ag conference
  • Shotgun Sports Team dual meet, Mid-Plains CC
  • Technology resources added to labs, life-size equine, bovine, feline & canine simulators

March

  • Spring Discovery Day #1 March 1
  • FFA Career Development Events March 2
  • Collegiate Cattlemen host community burger feed for farmers / ranchers
  • Two-day beef cattle AI classes for Aggies; one for public
  • Shotgun Sports compete in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, & ACUI Nationals in Texas
  • Crops Team competes at K-State contest
  • Ranch Horse Team competes in Colorado, Wyoming
  • Sherman Tegtmeier clinic for equine students
  • Rodeo Team hosts annual banquet, auction at The Anvil
  • NCTA at Northeast Nebraska Agriculture & Education Compact signing
  • NCTA hosts 42 colleges, 500 people to North American Colleges & Teachers in Agriculture 2022 Judging Contests, North Platte.  Dr. Brad Ramsdale coordinated NACTA
  • Long-term Vision & Planning discussions identify campus priority needs, facilities
  • University of Nebraska reports NCTA has $15 million impact to region’s economy
  • University President Ted Carter announces “Nebraska Promise” free tuition if family income under $65,000. Nebraska applicants to complete FAFSA by June 1

April

  • Aggie Rodeo competes at Iowa State, South Dakota State & Black Hills State 2-day rodeos
  • NCTA active at Nebraska State FFA Convention with faculty, students, and exhibit
  • NCTA Ranch Horse Team hosts 3-day Punchy in Pink Collegiate & Open Show, McCook
  • Spring Discovery Day #2 April 11
  • Ranch Horse Team to National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Championships Amarillo, Texas
  • New Student Enrollment #1 draws 52 participants
  • NCTA to State FFA Day at Brookings, South Dakota
  • Heifer Link project bred heifers to Aggies Michael Comstock, Braden Johnson, Ryan Liakos 

May

  • Eight inductees to Phi Theta Kappa academic honorary.  Leaders in 2022-23: Allison Wilkens, Andrea Hipke, Claudia Stevens, Aleena Wagner, Callie Landauer
  • 3rd District Congressman Adrian Smith is May 5 commencement speaker
  • Valedictorian Riley Borgerding, Blue Rapids, Kansas; Salutatorian Olivia Nyberg, Stromsburg
  • Aggie of the Year Maddie Carr, North Platte, Vet Tech student
  • Castle Scholarship recipients Chris Del Palacio of Lexington, Kyle Cohick of Colorado
  • Bruntz Family Faculty Teaching Award to Barb Berg, LVT, Veterinary Technology 
  • Community Service Award to Mary Rittenhouse, Agribusiness Management
  • Excellence in Service Award to Jo Popp, NCTA Food Service
  • Alumni, industry and community partners, University of Nebraska Foundation, deans, faculty & staff strategic planning
  • Post-semester maintenance projects, facility upgrades begin in May
  • Faculty prepares for Vet Tech and Summer Session Courses on June 13

NCTA Events:

June 1-2:  NCTA at State FFA Convention, Kansas

June 6-9:  Nebraska Youth Range Camp, NCTA campus

June 7-9: Career & Technical Education Conference, Kearney

June 8:  New Student Enrollment, NCTA Ed Center

June 8-9: NCTA to State FFA Convention, Colorado

June 23:  Aggie Alumni Annual Meeting, 12 pm CT, Virtual Zoom

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.