Advanced welding course students have been rebuilding steel pens at the NCTA feedlot. (Stehlik / NCTA photo)
Hands-on from classroom to farm Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Oct. 20, 2020

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

Experiential or “hands on” learning here at NCTA undergoes the true test of farm and ranch work. 

In the first eight weeks of classes, our animal science students gained experience in pre-conditioning and weaning calves from the campus cow herd.

Veterinary technician students who may be unfamiliar with large animal care or livestock such as cattle, sheep or swine, have gained experience and built confidence, in working around a bucket calf, VT professor Libby Fraser, DVM, reports.

Read Hands-on from classroom to farm
NCTA sophomore Addison Villwok, of Randolph, walks her horse Baxter through obstacles in the Ranch Trail Course at a recent stock horse versatility show. (Kelly Bennett photo for NCTA)
Stock horse riders compete virtually Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Oct. 20, 2020

By Mary Crawford, NCTA News

When a collegiate team is unable to go to their first horse show of the season, they take an alternate course.

Travel to a show in Douglas, Wyoming, wasn't in the plans so the NCTA Aggies from Curtis did the next best thing. They went virtual.

Cameras were rolling at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture as students filmed each other in stock horse team events for the Wyoming-based college contest.

Read Stock horse riders compete virtually
Aggie Rodeo Team ended its fall season in September yet the students meet for rodeo seminar twice weekly to hone their skills. Competition resumes next spring. (Emma Bassler / NCTA Rodeo)
Measuring Aggie advantages Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

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

Financial savings when applying for college classes don’t get much better than a current opportunity at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

Cost of education is reduced through the University of Nebraska system for students seeking admission to NCTA and three other NU campuses. Here in Curtis, NCTA applicants can consider three incentives:

Read Measuring Aggie advantages
Aileen Reynosa-Esquivel of Lexington, Nebraska is a sophomore student studying veterinary technology at NCTA. (Crawford / NCTA News photo)
Lexington alumna receives vet tech scholarship Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

By Mary Crawford, NCTA News

Aileen Reynosa-Esquivel of Lexington knew she wanted a career in health care, particularly working in a veterinary field with all types of animals, small, large, exotic and wildlife.

Once she stepped into her college classes in the fall of 2019 at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, however, she soon learned that her training as a veterinary technician surprisingly drew her to agriculture, too.

Read Lexington alumna receives vet tech scholarship
The Staff Spotlight for Oct. 14 features Sandy Wills, a 26-year employee of NCTA.  (File photo)
NCTA Staff Spotlight - Sandi Wills Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

By Malina Lindstrom, NCTA News writer

A longtime member of the Aggie Community, Sandi Wills is a native of Curtis and has lived her entire life in a neighborhood south of the NCTA campus.

Read NCTA Staff Spotlight - Sandi Wills
Wyatt Siwinski and Chrome compete in ranch trail class at Elbert, Colorado.  The NCTA freshman from Central City, Nebraska, was one of seven Aggies competing in the show on Oct. 3-4. (Kelley Bennett photo for NCTA)
Colorado hosts opener for Ranch Horse Team Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

By NCTA News

ELBERT, Colo. – Nebraskans riding in their first collegiate stock horse show in early October brought awards home to the Aggie campus in Curtis.

The Ranch Horse Team of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture competed in the Slidin’ Daze Fall Classic at Elbert, Colorado.

Three sophomores and four freshmen competed, while another five freshmen attended in ground support to their teammates, assisting with tack, saddling, filming and photography, and taking in the first collegiate contest of the fall semester.

Read Colorado hosts opener for Ranch Horse Team
Agribusiness management students from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture discuss crop yields and markets with Professor Mary Rittenhouse during a 2017 class session at the NCTA campus farm. (Craig Chandler / University Communication)
Aggie academics target workforce Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Oct. 7, 2020

Dean’s Message by Larry Gossen, Ph.D.

The month of October started off with exciting news for our Aggie community!

We were notified Friday afternoon that NCTA has been awarded a significant grant from federal Perkins funds which will enable the college to move into a new era of technology and academic delivery.

Read Aggie academics target workforce
Welding courses at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture prepare workforce-ready graduates for skilled, high-demand industries. A $100,000 federal grant will enhance state-of-the-art technology at NCTA. (Crawford / NCTA News photo)
NCTA awarded workforce skills grant Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Oct. 6, 2020

By Mary Crawford, NCTA News

CURTIS, Neb. – A $100,000 grant used to expand distance, mobile and on-site education for workforce development at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture was announced late last week by the Nebraska Department of Education.

The two-year college located in Curtis plans to purchase cutting-edge technology in four academic areas to broaden its youth and adult education programs, and to stimulate greater interest in high-demand jobs, said NCTA Dean Larry Gossen.

Read NCTA awarded workforce skills grant
NCTA Aggies competed Oct. 3-4 at Oak Creek Sporting Club in Brainard. From left, Kamren Sitzman of McCook, Colby Mitchell of Burwell who was second place overall, Kaden Bryant of Firth, and Trey Barnhart of McCook. (Alan Taylor / NCTA Photo)
Aggies enjoy breaking clays for NCTA Monday, October 5, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020

By NCTA News

A quartet of Aggies with the NCTA Shotgun Sports Team was on road duty again over the weekend as they competed in sporting clays matches in Brainard, Nebraska.

Concordia University of Seward hosted the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture to the Concordia Bulldogs Sporting Invitational at the Oak Creek Sporting Club.

Read Aggies enjoy breaking clays for NCTA
Aggie livestock judging team members from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture evaluated 42 sets of livestock during four days on the road last week in Kansas and Nebraska. (Doug Smith / NCTA photo)
Aggies judge at two weekend contests Monday, October 5, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020

By NCTA News

Two livestock evaluation teams with the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture competed Friday in Kansas, then back to Nebraska for a workout on Saturday, and a contest Sunday.

The season opener for the freshmen and sophomores was the Flint Hills / Mid-America Classic Judging Contest at Hutchinson, Kansas where the team evaluated classes of livestock in beef, sheep, swine and goats, said Aggie Coach Doug Smith.

Read Aggies judge at two weekend contests