Partners are mentors for ag careers

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

Give Aggie students two days chatting with other young ag producers and it’s likely that investment pays off.

Our students from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture will frequently return from an industry conference or a class field trip with greater resolve for their educational pathway or career choice.

They like sharing ideas, asking questions, and being part of group with similar interests.

Such was the case last weekend as NCTA participated in the annual Young Farmer and Rancher Conference coordinated by Nebraska Farm Bureau.

Kamren Sitzman, an NCTA agronomy major from McCook, joined Collegiate Farm Bureau on campus to increase awareness of state and national issues. He was inspired by what he saw and learned at the Kearney event.

“It was a really fun experience,” said Sitzman. “I am glad that Brad (Ramsdale) mentioned the conference because I hadn’t attended in the past. I am very happy that I am a part of this group of agricultural individuals.”

Ramsdale, agronomy professor and Collegiate Farm Bureau’s faculty advisor, is academic lead for Agricultural Production Systems. He also coaches the NCTA Crops Judging Team of which Sitzman is a sophomore member.

“I enjoyed meeting new friends and being around people that have the same interests as me,” Sitzman said Monday when back at campus.

Young Farmers & Ranchers

The two-day program featured industry tours to businesses such as Ward Laboratories, sessions on agriculture production and advocacy, a discussion meet with participants conversing about resources and programs for young producers and their families facing economic or health hardships, entertainment from agricultural comedian and a cornhole tournament.

Ahren Marburger of Malvern, Iowa is treasurer-secretary of NCTA’s club. He, too, appreciated the interaction with young producers and other collegiate members. On Friday, attendees had two business tours.

“At Ward Laboratories they walked us through how they process all the soil samples and feed/forage samples. Our second tour was at Fässe Valve where we learned about their electrohydraulic valves for tractors and other equipment. Both were very interesting.”

Breakout sessions were highlights for Marburger, majoring in diversified agriculture management (crops, livestock, ag equipment) who will return to his family’s farm after graduation May 5 with an Associate of Applied Science degree.

“I especially liked one where they had a loan officer from a bank talk about what goes through their mind when a farmer asks for a loan. Then, an agronomist from Aurora Co-op gave an update on crop diseases, insects and weeds. and how to scout for them and take care of them,” he said.

“We heard from a really good keynote speaker who talked about how the younger generation is responsible for educating the public, about how agriculture works, and where food comes from,” Marburger said.

Marburger also competes with the NCTA Crops Judging Team. He is a student employee on the NCTA Ranch Crew, responsible for feeding livestock, working on upkeep to facilities and machinery, and helping with the campus beef herd, among other duties.

Sitzman will receive an Associate of Science degree in May, then transfer to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and major in Integrated Crops Management. He gained his love of agriculture from his uncle and grandfather.

NCTA encourages Aggies to become engaged in student clubs and leadership opportunities. Thank you ag producers, industry partners and agribusinesses who step up to mentor and encourage our NCTA Aggies.

Women in Agriculture

In three weeks, on February 24-25, student in the NCTA Women in Ag club will attend the Nebraska WIA Conference in Kearney. Since WIA met virtually in 2021, our students are looking forward to face-to-face interactions again at the sessions, meals and social times.

Student scholarships are available, says Mary Rittenhouse, faculty advisor and academic lead for Agribusiness Management Systems. Andela Taylor, recruiting coordinator, will attend with an NCTA exhibit, as well.

Find the agenda and details at https://wia.unl.edu/conference  Registration increases after February 9. The program is coordinated by University of Nebraska Agriculture Economics.

NCTA Campus Events:

Feb. 2:  FFA D11 Career Development Events

Feb. 5:  STVMA Public Pancake Feed, 8 a.m. to noon, Student Union

Feb. 5:  Frontier County 4-H Workshop, 10 a.m. Ed Center

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.