Engaging in ag at NCTA

March 11, 2020

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

We have another very busy week on campus for our students and the entire community.

Aggie faculty and staff at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture are engaging students and our public in unique contests or educational opportunities beyond our spring semester class schedule.

On Tuesday, we again hosted a District 11 FFA contest for nearly 250 students. Career Development Events for FFA skills included meats, livestock management, ag sales, floriculture, food science, and the Envirothon.

At NCTA, agriculture, agribusiness, and veterinary technology IS our business!  

Please join us for two special public seminars and receptions on March 16 and March 19.

Two individuals – Dr. Clyde Cranwell and Dr. Darrel Sandall - will visit NCTA as candidates for the position as your next NCTA dean. (See times and locations below).

Livestock judging program

Our Aggie Livestock Judging Teams left for Texas early Wednesday morning with Animal Science Professor and Coach Doug Smith.

The students will work their way south, stopping at colleges, livestock farms and family purebred operations to evaluate stock before the Houston Livestock Show and Judging Contest next Monday.

Six students, assistant coach Grant Romshek and Dr. Smith will conduct judging workouts at these locations:

Fort Hays State University – Beef and Sheep Units; Oklahoma State University Swine and Beef Units; Moreno Ranches, Frost, Texas; V8 Ranch, Boling, Texas; Swine workout of Houston Stock Show swine exhibitors; Texas A & M University; Counsil Family Limousin, Madisonville, Texas; and possibly more along the way.

We wish them well at workouts and contest, safe travels down and back. We will see them in classes March 18.

Community Invitations

The NCTA Dean Search Committee in is the process of hosting three candidates to campus. Dr. Larry Gossen met with students, faculty and staff today (Wednesday). 

It’s important to these candidates and to all of us at NCTA to have community engagement with local stakeholders, all interested parties from the region, our alumni and industry partners.

Next week, please join us at the Education Center for seminars on Monday and Thursday at 3:45 p.m. Each will be followed with a public reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m., also at the Ed Center.

Curtis friends, let’s show Dr. Cranwell and Dr. Sandall a warm welcome to Frontier County as you have today with Dr. Gossen.

For more details on the candidates, see https://ncta.unl.edu/meet-dean-candidates.

I look forward to your visits to campus to engage with our outstanding Aggies students, faculty and staff.

NCTA 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

March 11 – NCTA Dean Candidate Larry Gossen, 3:45 p.m. Seminar, 5:30 p.m. Reception, Ed Center

March 11-18 – Aggie Livestock Judging Team to Houston, Texas

March 14 – NCTA Shotgun Sports Team, Fort Hays State Invitational, Salina, Kansas

March 16 – NCTA Dean Candidate Clyde Cranwell, 3:45 p.m. Seminar, 5:30 p.m. Reception, Ed Center

March 19 – NCTA Dean Candidate Darrel Sandall, 3:45 p.m. Seminar, 5:30 p.m. Reception, Ed Center