Year-round programs at NCTA

Year-round programs at NCTA

CUSP student Yvonne Ingabire receives safety instructions before operating a power saw in a construction class taught by Roy Cole. He designed a sheep shed which students are building for the NCTA campus farm. (Crawford/NCTA News)
CUSP student Yvonne Ingabire receives safety instructions before operating a power saw in a construction class taught by Roy Cole. He designed a sheep shed which students are building for the NCTA campus farm. (Crawford/NCTA News)

May 30, 2019

By Associate Dean Jennifer McConville

CURTIS, Neb. - The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture we can offer educational programming nearly year-round because of partnerships with Nebraska Extension and other educational organizations.

As a two-year college within the University of Nebraska system, NCTA’s academic year matches that of the other four University campuses.  We are a two semester system, beginning before Labor Day, and concluding in early May.

Due to campus programs with livestock, horses, a crop farming enterprise, agricultural facilities including a construction workshop, agricultural mechanics labs in welding, equipment and small engines, plus broad species of birds, small pets, dogs, cats, snakes, and exotic animals, NCTA is an excellent teaching campus for year-round activities.

Campus teaching facilities, food services and residence halls make the ideal combination for small workshops, summer camps, and special initiatives.

On May 13, Frontier County residents our newest group of 50 students from Rwanda. They are full-time University of Nebraska-Lincoln CUSP scholars in a 4-year bachelor’s degree program.

Their 7-week experience here features three session of college credit courses for two weeks each. They rotate in daily farm chores from 8-9 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. caring for chickens, swine, dairy cows, sheep and goats.

They’ve given several presentations about Rwanda, including sessions last week for youth.

Summer camps

On May 22-23, NCTA offered outstanding programs on livestock and animal science.

In total, we hosted 78 participants at the NCTA Standard of Excellence Livestock Judging Camp. Then, 110 on Thursday for the annual West Central Youth Animal Science Field Day coordinated by our partners in Nebraska Extension.

The youngsters were wonderful guests and our NCTA livestock judging team, and the CUSP scholars from Rwanda greatly enjoyed working with attendees.  Plus, for some youth, the new experience of staying overnight at a college dorm was pretty exciting!

Soon, the Nebraska Youth Range Camp, which is typically held in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, comes to Curtis.

Campers will be staying in the NCTA residence halls, having sessions on campus, and also field trips out into pastures where they see first-hand the range conditions and forages in southwest Nebraska.

Additionally, students in the NCTA Veterinary Technology return to campus for courses and summer program June 10 to August 2.

Four of our faculty members are also offering online classes from June 10 to August 2. This opportunity allows college students, high school students and the general public to take one or more classes via the internet through the college Blackboard system.

Instructors and topics are:

  • Agribusiness professor Mary Rittenhouse, Accounting, 3 credits
  • Agronomy professor Brad Ramsdale, Crop Science and Natural Resources Management, for NCTA students and dual credit high school students, 3 credits each
  • Veterinary Technology professor Barb Berg offers Radiation Safety, 1 credit hour. The course is for veterinary clinic employee needing Nebraska-required radiation safety training before they can assist in taking x-rays. However, the course is open to anyone
  • Animal science professor Doug Smith, Animal Nutrition, 3 credits

To register, see https://ncta.unl.edu/online-courses.

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.

June events:

05 - Robotics for Youth Workshop, 9-3, NCTA Ed Center Computer Lab

10 – NCTA Summer Session begins, Campus and online classes

10 – Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs 4-H Workshop, 9-4, NCTA Ag Hall

10-14 - Nebraska Youth Range Camp, NCTA campus

11- Generational Ranch Transition seminar, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., North Platte

12 – Grazing Coalition Summer, Southwest Nebraska ranches

12 – Clover Kid/Junior 4-H Horticulture Camp, 8-noon, NCTA Greenhouse