NCTA freshmen majoring in Diversified Agriculture (agronomy and livestock emphasis) gathered with Professor Brad Ramsdale, front right, at the start of fall semester. (Crawford / NCTA News)
What is your takeaway? Thursday, February 6, 2020

Feb. 6, 2020

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Each learning environment and opportunity that our students encounter at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis has a takeaway.

For some in the hands-on learning laboratories of the NCTA campus, it may be refining one of the 100-plus skills required of veterinary technicians.

Or, for eighth-graders who visit during customized STEM program dates, it may be witnessing the digestive aspects of a ruminant animal.

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NCTA students lead four peer reviewers on a Higher Learning Commission site visit of campus in 2016. (Crawford / NCTA News photo)
NCTA to host review team Friday, January 31, 2020

January 31, 2020

By NCTA News

CURTIS, Neb. – Like an annual physical at the doctor’s office, a thorough examination and review of institutional health and academic operations is a high priority for college campuses.

Re-authorization of a regional accreditation of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture has been in the works since early 2019. Next Sunday, site reviewers arrive in Curtis for the final exam.

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NCTA Safari Club members and guests board their bus for a study tour in Costa Rica. (Chrissy Starkey/NCTA Photo)
Beyond the classroom Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Jan. 29, 2020

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Our agricultural and veterinary technology students are richly blessed with an abundance of educational opportunities through the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture!

Some of those applied learning experiences are beyond the campus classrooms or laboratories of this University of Nebraska institution.

For example, in the past week we’ve had three groups traveling to regional or national agricultural activities which are sponsored by their NCTA team or club.

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NCTA Ag Business club students, left to right, Kat Schick of Curtis, with Sophie Nutter and Paige Twohig, both of Wilcox, attend the National Western Stock Show's rodeo. The trio studied marketing techniques of businesses and vendors during a two-day study tour. (Rittenhouse/NCTA)
Stock Show is big business Monday, January 27, 2020

January 28, 2020

By Mary Crawford, NCTA News

DENVER, Colo. – A rodeo, rural businesses, and a chance to dispel some urban myths through agricultural literacy were among highlights for three college students on a study tour in Colorado.

The annual trip the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver brought high praise from Aggie students studying at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis.

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Chantelle Schulz completed her Associate of Science degree in agricultural education in 2019.
Aggie mid-year graduates Monday, January 27, 2020

January 27, 2020

By NCTA News

CURTIS, Neb. – Nine students at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis completed their academic programs for an Associate Degree in December.

All nine received degrees in Agriculture Production Systems (APS) with various emphasis areas.

The graduates, all Nebraskans, are listed by town, APS and study emphasis:

Madisyn Cutler, Elsie, APS, livestock management

Rylee Ehmke, Weeping Water, APS, livestock management

Sarah Fitzgerald, Doniphan, APS, equine management

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Dr. Kelly Bruns, NCTA interim dean, presented 2019 Service Awards to (from left) Eric Reed, Sandy Wills, Bruns, Cindy Fritsche, Sarah Cole and Rebecca Currie. (McConville/NCTA Photo)
NCTA presents employee service awards Saturday, January 25, 2020

January 25, 2020

By NCTA News

CURTIS, Neb. – Staff and faculty at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture were honored with special service awards for employment anniversaries observed in 2019.

The awards were announced recently and presented during a forum at the Curtis campus by NCTA interim dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Recipients are recognized in five-year increments by the University of Nebraska system.

Awardees are: 

25 years – Sandy Wills, custodial II and security staff

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Ross Steward harvests corn at the USDA-ARS Limit Irrigation Research Farm near Greeley, Colorado. The native of Littleton credits trips to his grandparents’ farm and his college years, both in Nebraska, for a career path in crop management. (Courtesy photo)
NCTA grad plants seeds to success Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Jan. 22, 2020

By Nicole Wright and Mary Crawford, NCTA News

Ross Steward is applying complementary college degrees in agronomy to on-farm research on irrigated agriculture.

Since graduating in 2016 from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis and three years later from Colorado State University, Steward now oversees a 40-acre research facility in northeastern Colorado.

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The NCTA Stock Dog Team returns to the National Western Stock Show cattle dog trials with six Aggies competing in the Intermediate Division. (NCTA Photo)
Busy January for NCTA Aggies Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Jan. 22, 2020

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Aggies are underway with their second week of spring semester classes at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and I’d like to welcome new students to campus.

We had several students transfer or begin their college career after the break. Welcome to campus, new Aggies!

Our residence halls are filled with students bundled in winter gear and carefully making their way across campus, and when outdoors caring for the NCTA farm’s livestock and horses.

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Aggie students and Nebraska producers can participate in the 2020 Sorghum Symposium Thursday, Jan. 30 at the NCTA campus. (NCTA photo)
Sorghum symposium is Jan. 30 Tuesday, January 21, 2020

January 21, 2020

Grain sorghum producers are encouraged to attend the 2020 Sorghum Symposium hosted Thursday, January 30 at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Nebraska Agriculture Industry Education Center.

The symposium is sponsored by the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association, with the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and Nebraska Extension.

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The NCTA Aggies evaluated bulls at Ruggles Angus near McCook in early January. (Smith/NCTA Photo)
Aggies compete at Denver Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Jan. 21, 2020

By Mary Crawford, NCTA News

The NCTA livestock judging team braved cold weather in pre-contest workouts in early January, and their efforts paid off last week in Denver.

The sophomore team brought home a 12th place in judging carloads of cattle at the National Western Stock Show. It was the highest rank for the team in recent history, said coach Doug Smith.

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