Taking agriculture to the field

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Our Aggies have completed their first two weeks of classes at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

Bravo to NCTA staff and faculty for their outstanding preparations for the arrival of new and returning students.

For those readers who attended the 150^th Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island – and especially for those individuals and families involved in open class and youth exhibits in 4-H and FFA – I extend a hearty note of appreciation.

The NCTA Aggies and fairgoers appreciate the amazing amount of dedication and extra effort put forth to make this an exceptional showcase of Nebraska agriculture. There truly is no place like Nebraska!

September is an especially great opportunity for our rural college to help tell the story of agriculture. This week, you will find NCTA at Husker Harvest Days, a global platform of Nebraska agriculture.

On Tuesday through Thursday, we will literally be “out in the field” as the show is a working farm expo on a site northeast of Wood River. Show sponsors (Farm Progress and Nebraska Farmer magazine) bill Husker Harvest Days as the “World’s Largest Totally Irrigated Working Farm Show.”

NCTA is appreciative to the University of Nebraska to again be a part of this three-day showcase.

Husker Harvest Days is filled with demonstrations in crops and livestock, show arenas, tents and buildings filled with static exhibits and many commodities.

Presentations and seminars are filled with valuable information for rural residents, along with urban audiences.

NCTA at the big ag expo

NCTA Aggie students will be at Husker Harvest Days each of the three days, Tuesday through Thursday.  Find our “home base” at the University of Nebraska building and adjoining tent at Lot 827, located on Eighth Street near Central Avenue.

Our students will be there with refreshments and to greet attendees with information about NCTA programs. We hope our alumni stop by to say hello!

Also, several academic divisions will have NCTA students engaged at exhibits and demonstrations.

NCTA agriculture education majors will be providing information about academic programs at Lot 827.  Their faculty advisor and instructor Dr. Doug Smith says as future teachers their emphasis is youth education.

Professor Mary Rittenhouse, chair of the Agribusiness Management Systems division, says 20 ag business students will assist at the University of Nebraska displays on Wednesday.  Professor Jeremy Sievers has asked students in his ag sales class to explore their career field with the hundreds of ag vendors and potential employers.

Additionally, students and instructors in irrigation technology will be visible with our partners at the Reinke Irrigation building throughout the show. And, agronomy and diversified ag students are on the grounds Thursday as well, says Dr. Brad Ramsdale, agronomy professor.

Students in the NCTA welding classes have an opportunity to gain national level exposure at a hands-on welding trailer hosted by the American Welding Society. Instructor Dan Stehlik says the NCTA welding program is growing each year.

A May graduate was AWS certified last year, and several other Aggies plan to qualify for the national test this year. Look for them at the AWS trailer at Lot 127.

Finally, for FFA chapters and over 1,200 FFA members, they will be bringing canned food for a food drive coordinated for Heartland United Way. We look forward to assisting these partners in combatting hunger.

An FFA scavenger hunt throughout the show grounds, particularly at the interactive display at the University of Nebraska building, is one of the fun activities that NCTA sponsors with the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.  Come and sign up with NCTA and CASNR to learn more!

College Fairs

High school students can visit with NCTA at one of the 28 college fairs conducted throughout September and early October. Find an NCTA representative at these fairs for college exploration. We share details about the NCTA campus, programs in veterinary technology, animal and equine science, agronomy, agribusiness, ag mechanics and more.

The college fairs, also known as Educational Planning Programs (EPP's) are coordinated by the Nebraska Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (NACRAO) and EducationQuest.  High school students register through their school guidance departments to participate in these regional college fairs.

We will see hundreds of students gathering for their regional college fairs hosted by schools in the following towns: 

Sept. 9 - Mullen and Alliance

Sept. 10 - Chadron and Scottsbluff

Sept. 11 - Sidney and Ogallala

For details on these college fairs, see school guidance counselors or call us at 1-800-3-CURTIS.  We hope to see reach students "out in the field" of agriculture!

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. 7-8 – Aggie Rodeo to River Falls, Wisconsin

Sept. 7 – Aggie Shotgun Sports to the Open Fall Hunter Sporting Clay Shoot, North Platte

Sept. 8 – NCTA and Outback Stock Dog members practice

Sept. 10-12 – Aggies at Husker Harvest Days, Lot 827