Prime for industry careers

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

Demand for agricultural and animal health graduates is strong. Frequent contacts made to the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture confirms the need for a plentiful and skilled workforce.

Employers have positions in agriculture production at the farm and ranch. Veterinary clinics and livestock entities need fulltime employees.

Agribusinesses and ag cooperatives seek skilled individuals for entry-level and advanced positions in agronomy, sales, field staff, chemical application, inventory, and finance.

Technical skills are needed in irrigation technology, welding, agricultural equipment sales, and livestock. All are on the “Jobs Available” list.

Positions range from entry level to experienced. NCTA alumni with a 5-7 years’ experience in production or business find strong demand for managers.

Almost daily, my office receives calls and emails with job announcements.

Government and service agencies tell us they have immediate openings for specialists and trainees. After a 6-month or 1-year fully paid training regime, Aggie graduates can advance into higher-pay and management careers.

NCTA assists by communicating about internships, part-time positions, and full-time work.

• Our public web site, ncta.unl.edu posts job announcements. See https://ncta.unl.edu/full-part-time-jobs  Josi Arnold in the Dean’s Office manages electronic, fillable forms from employers.

• Postings are shared by social media internally to NCTA students and externally to NCTA alumni.

• Academic departments share job postings through faculty and on bulletin boards.

• Library Specialist Mo Khamouna maintains career resources and bulletin board in the NCTA Library Resource Center.

•  The NCTA Career Fair is coordinated by Kevin Martin, Student Services advisor. Companies and employers register to have displays, bring recruiters, and interview students. The 2021 Fair is Thursday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the NCTA Student Union.

Husker Harvest Days outreach

I met with employers and industry leaders in my one-day visit to Husker Harvest Days at Wood River.  During the Sept. 14-16 event, NCTA Recruiters Andela Taylor and Rulon Taylor met hundreds of students, and Andela shared a few employer take-aways:

“The HHD show should be called Nebraska’s Field of Dreams. The opportunity for successful careers in agriculture was evident everywhere you looked.

“Rulon and I met with two representatives of Reinke Manufacturing, who confirm that the irrigation technology graduates of NCTA are in great demand. Some dealers will hire students for summer positions and assist in paying tuition at NCTA to receive their irrigation technician certificate or associate degree. Salaries in the industry can range from $40,000 to $80,000 a year.

“I also enjoyed visiting with partners such as Schaffert Manufacturing, Inc., and alumnus Anson Nielsen with Precision Planting about entrepreneurship, careers and employment opportunities. 

“Employer conversations reinforced there are plentiful jobs in agriculture, and you don’t have to be a farm kid to enter the agriculture industry and be successful.”  -  Andela Taylor

October is Manufacturing Month

NCTA is a partner with stakeholders which create products, foods, equipment and resources in the manufacturing sector. We are diligent in education to meet demand for a skilled workforce.

Nebraska Governor Pete Rickets recently shared that more than 101,000 Nebraskans work in manufacturing—the highest total since August 2008.

Aggie Events:

Oct. 9: Drive-through Mobile Food Pantry, 9-11 a.m. Community Center

Oct. 9-10: Stock Dog Public Trial, 8-5, Livestock Teaching Center arena

Oct. 9-10: Shotgun Sports at Heartland Shooting Park, Grand Island

Oct. 11:  Flu Vaccination Clinic, 9-11 a.m., Student Union

Oct. 12:  NCTA Round Robin Team Roping, 6:30 p.m., Mill Park

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.