Re-energized for the Aggie Eight

Oct. 18, 2018

By NCTA Dean Ron Rosati, Ph.D.

Aggie students at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture were on Fall Break earlier this week.

Students were back on campus with classes resuming Wednesday.

Most were to travel home and recharge their batteries for a four-day weekend starting after classes ended last Friday.

The break for University of Nebraska students at five campuses marked the 8-week or half-way point in the fall semester.

It also gave faculty a breather to complete grading of exams and prepare for the next Aggie 8-week courses.

Three of our Aggie teams were on the road for competitions over the break, however. Rodeo, shooting sports and ranch horse teams and their coaches returned to NCTA late Sunday after fighting some extreme weather during their travel and competitions.

Aggie Rodeo Team

NCTA Aggie Rodeo had their Oct. 10-11 rodeo at Sisseton, South Dakota cancelled due to the adverse weather. They were able to compete Oct. 12-13 at an indoor arena at North Dakota State University in Fargo, reports Coach Taylor Rossenbach.

Austin Porras of Greeley, Colorado, was second in the long go and second in the average of the bull riding.

Quentin Anderson of Pierce, Nebraska was sixth in the long go and sixth in the average of team roping. He and roping partner Mykelsi Schnose of Mid-Plains Community College have placed at two rodeos this fall.

The Aggies travel on Oct. 19-20 to Ames, Iowa, for action hosted by Iowa State University. We wish them safety and success.

Their final rodeo of the fall season is rescheduled now for Nov. 1-2 at Sisseton Wahpeton College in South Dakota.

Aggie Shooting Sports

Weather proved particularly challenging for the Aggie Shooting Sports team in the Oct. 13-14 match hosted by Hastings College at Grand Island’s Heartland Shooting Park.

“This weekend was tough,” said Coach Alan Taylor. “Sunday’s weather was cold and miserable, making shooting difficult. The team seemed tired. We did not shoot to our potential but we had some folks with personnel bests.”

The team hosts a “Pheasant Tune-up” Sporting Clay Shoot this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Taylor’s pasture located north of Maywood. The public is invited to shoot for prizes at the event which includes an admission fee.

A 5-member squad will also travel to Brighton, Colorado, to the inaugural CSU RamVitational. We wish them warmer weather and much success.

Ranch Horse Team

The Aggies and their coach Joanna Hergenreder had traveled to Fort Collins for the Colorado State University Silver Jubilee.  Complete results will be reported later.

Thursday at NCTA

Join us Thursday at 7 p.m. as NCTA students and Collegiate Cattlemen sponsor the 2018 Breast Cancer Awareness Extravaganza. This is a fundraising effort consisting of timed races on horseback. The action will be at the indoor arena of the Livestock Teaching Center with proceeds going to breast cancer education.

Welcome back vet techs

Licensed veterinary technicians who are employed in animal care in Nebraska and elsewhere will be in Curtis Friday and Saturday for an annual program in continuing education. Many are NCTA alumni. This is the 45^th annual fall session hosted NCTA Veterinary Technician Continuing Education Association.

NCTA Events:

October:

17-19 – NCTA Vet Tech Week events

19-20 - Vet Tech Continuing Education, NCTA VT Complex

19-20 - Aggie Rodeo at Iowa State University, Ames

20 – Pheasant Tune-up Clay Target Shoot, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Maywood

20 - Aggie Livestock Judging, Colorado State University Classic, Fort Collins

20-21 - Aggies Shooting Sports to CSU RamVitational, Brighton, Colo.

22 - Heuerman Lecture with Sens. Kerrey and Hagel, 3:30 p.m. livestream, NCTA Ed Center

23- NCTA C0mmunity Advisory meeting, 12 noon, Education Center

NCTA Mission:  The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is devoted to a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology, food and related industries. The college provides open access to innovative technical education resulting in associate degrees, certificates, diplomas and other credentials.