TRUE BLUE NEBRASKA FFA FOUNDATION
AUGUST 2025
Blue Jackets. Bright Futures. Program to Empower Nebraska Students
The iconic blue FFA jacket symbolizes leadership, career connections, and community building for nearly 12,000 Nebraska students in agricultural education. However, for some deserving students, owning this emblem of dedication remains out of reach.
The Blue Jackets. Bright Futures. Program ensures every student can fully participate in the transformative FFA experience. The program seeks generous donors to provide
FFA jackets and ties or scarves to students who might otherwise go without.
“For nearly 12,000 Nebraska students, FFA is more than an organization; it’s a launchpad for leadership, career connections, and community building,” says Allison Sadman, volunteer board member for the Nebraska FFA Foundation.
The campaign highlights the profound impact of such donations through stories like Victoria’s, an FFA member who exemplifies the organization’s broad reach. “For Victoria, FFA isn’t just about farming. It’s about hard work, dedication, and preparing for a future brimming with leadership opportunities,” says Sandman. “Victoria sees FFA as a supportive family that fosters her best, while equipping her with vital skills in public speaking, financial management, and responsibility.”
Providing an FFA jacket and tie or scarf enables students to proudly represent their chapters and continue their personal growth. This jacket is more than just clothing; it’s a powerful, lasting reminder of their achievements and dedication to agriculture.
The “Blue Jackets. Bright Futures.” Program aims to gather donations by September 1, 2025, to support students eager to learn, grow, and contribute to Nebraska’s agricultural community.
Use the QR code or return the enclosed envelope with your donation by September 1.
Standing on stage, looking into the eyes of our newly elected teammates, we knew this year would be something special. Even “incredible” doesn’t fully describe how the first three months have been. From connecting with FFA members across Nebraska to meeting with leaders in the agriculture industry, everything we’ve done has been filled with purpose.
Our journey began at Basecamp, our first training as a team. We learned the expectations of our roles and built strong connections with one another. Through the CliftonStrengths assessment, we identified our individual strengths and how they complement each other. This helped us form a foundation of trust and teamwork right away.
In May, we prepared for Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT). Members came from across the state to grow as leaders, understand their responsibilities and have fun! As five of our seven officers plan to major in agricultural education, this event was especially meaningful. We loved the opportunity to inspire and impact hundreds of Nebraska FFA members.
In July, we attended the State Officer Summit in Washington, D.C. We learned how to advocate for agriculture and FFA on a national level and served on delegate boards to represent Nebraska FFA. We also toured monuments and reflected on the leadership of our country’s founders.
We are incredibly thankful for the advisors, sponsors, donors and members who make all of this possible. Your support allows us to grow, serve and lead across the state and nation. This team is committed to putting in the full effort, breaking barriers and leading with heart. We’re just getting started—and we hope you’re as excited as we are for what this year will bring.
Best regards,
Jake Rezac, Nebraska FFA State President
Nebraska FFA State Convention is March 25-27, 2026 in Lincoln
I Believe Campaign Begins in September
September marks the official start of the 14th annual I Believe in the Future of Ag fundraising campaign. This campaign serves as an outlet for local FFA chapters to receive donations for innovative projects in their classrooms, leadership programming, community service projects and field trips to advance agriculture education in their schools.
Corporate sponsors provide support for an educational campaign for FFA and agricultural education in Nebraska and support fundraising efforts at the local level. “Local FFA/agriculture education programs play an
integral role in growing and developing future leaders in agriculture and in our communities. I see this campaign as a very important tool to help those chapters have the resources they need to grow leaders and build communities,” says Stacey Agnew, Nebraska FFA Foundation Executive Director.
Donors to the I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign choose which chapter they support. One hundred percent of each local donation will be sent back to the designated chapter at the end of the campaign and a portion of the $30,000 challenge matching pool will be distributed to participating chapters.
To donate to a local FFA chapter contact your local FFA advisor or go to neffafoundation.org/ support-us.
Sponsor Engagement From the Gothenburg FFA Chapter
“Last year, my ag business class participated in the I Believe Sponsor Engagement Contest without ever leaving the classroom. Each week, students were assigned to watch two sponsor videos of their choice from the foundation website and write reflections on what they learned. The element of choice kept them engaged, and the variety of sponsors helped expose students to career paths and agrelated opportunities they wouldn’t normally encounter here in Gothenburg.
This year, we’re excited to dive in again and hope to build on that experience by encouraging even deeper conversations about career goals and how sponsorships directly support student success in FFA.”
- AnnaLisa Mosel, Gothenburg FFA Advisor
Building a Better Herd: Keigan Kocian’s Work
to Expand and Improve Goat Facilities
When Keigan Kocian first learned about fainting goats, he was hooked by their quirky behavior and the chance to start a project of his own. That spark turned into a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) that has grown over the years into a successful goat production operation at his home near Brainard, Nebraska thanks to the Nebraska FFA Foundation SAE Grant Kocian received in 2023.
What started as a junior high project became more serious once he entered high school and joined FFA. With each year, the herd grew. With a growing herd, there came a growing need for more space. That’s when Kocian applied for and received a Nebraska FFA Foundation SAE Grant. With the $1,025 he received, he built an additional structure to shelter does and kids during kidding season and purchased fencing panels to expand his outdoor pen area.
“These were improvements that seemed necessary as my herd was increasing,” he explains. “The upgrades let me manage the
herd better, especially during harsh weather and kidding season.”
A severe blizzard tested the new facility’s effectiveness this past winter, and Kocian was able to keep his animals safe and cared for.
Even as he looks toward graduation this coming year, Kocian isn’t slowing down. He hopes to maintain the herd while finishing high school, with plans for his younger sister to take over some of the responsibilities so the project can continue. Long term, Kocian wants to pursue a career in animal science and live in a rural community where he can continue raising livestock.
“My SAE has taught me about record keeping, responsibility, construction and the risks and rewards of agriculture,” Kocian says. “It’s not just about raising goats- it’s preparing me for my future.”
GROWING LEADERS
Joel Miller Named 2025 Nebraska Golden Owl Award® Winner
As the demand for skilled ag educators continues to rise nationwide, recognizing those who go above and beyond in shaping future leaders is more important than ever. In Nebraska, six outstanding agricultural educators were recently honored as finalists for the 2024–2025 Golden Owl Award®. Among them, Joel Miller, ag teacher at Hampton Public Schools, was announced as Nebraska’s grand prize winner and 2025 Ag Educator of the Year.
Nationwide, in partnership with the Nebraska FFA Foundation and the Nebraska Agriculture Educators Association (NAEA), presented Miller with the Golden Owl Award during the Nebraska Career Education Conference. As the grand prize winner, Miller received the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and a $3,000 cash award, generously provided by Nationwide.
Miller’s dedication to student success and experiential learning has left a lasting impact on the Hampton FFA Chapter. One nominator described him as a tireless advocate for his students, saying, “His passion for teaching,
his commitment to student success, and his tireless work to improve agricultural education across Nebraska reflect the highest ideals of the profession.”
Agriculture has been central to Miller’s life from a young age. Growing up on his family’s farm and ranch in Hamilton County, he was an active member of 4-H and FFA. A high school advisor in Aurora encouraged him to pursue ag education, leading him to Northwest Missouri State University—where he found his calling in the classroom.
Miller began his teaching career in Cambridge before returning to his home county, where he is now completing his 19th year at Hampton. Across 22 years in the profession, he has continually looked for ways to connect students to agriculture in meaningful ways.
Miller’s philosophy is rooted in believing in every student. “They might not think agriculture is their thing when they start,” he shared. “But sometimes it’s just one thing that turns the light switch on for them.”
MAKE A WILL MONTH
August is Make-A-Will Month: Leave a Legacy That Lasts
August marks Make-A-Will Month, a powerful opportunity to reflect on the legacy you want to leave behind. At the Nebraska FFA Foundation, we believe in the transformative impact of planned giving—how one gift can support growing leaders, building communities and creating career connections for generations to come. Just look at the lasting impact of supporters like Dr. Ted Ward, whose early planned gift helped launch our ability to hire our first Executive Director, Tammy Meyer. Dr. Allen Blezek’s most recent planned gift is helping to support the local chapter and student SAE grant program. Even a small percentage of your estate can make a big difference in advancing our mission.
We understand that creating a will can feel overwhelming. That’s why we offer simple,
user-friendly tools to help you get started. Visit our Planning Toolkit for step-by-step guides and sample language to easily include a charitable gift in your will.
Want to support teacher development? Fund student Supervised Agricultural Experiences? Strengthen local FFA chapters? A planned gift allows you to invest in the programs that matter most to you.
This August, we encourage you to take action. By creating your will and including the Nebraska FFA Foundation, you ensure your values and support live on, helping grow the next generation of agricultural leaders. This August, make your will—and make a difference.
Visit our Planning Toolkit with the QR code for a step-by-step guide.
Support FFA by Gifting Ag Commodities
There are more ways to support Nebraska FFA members than by opening your checkbook. Nebraska farmers and ranchers have a unique opportunity to support them through gifts of commodities, such as corn or cattle, instead of making a cash contribution.
When you’re ready to make your gift of grain or livestock, let the Nebraska FFA Foundation and your local grain elevator or sale barn know. Once the Nebraska FFA Foundation is aware, the commodity will be sold and you will receive acknowledgment of transfer.
State Officer Business Visits
The seven Nebraska FFA State Officers were able to visit 40 businesses and donors across Nebraska this summer. During these visits, they were able to see many parts of agriculture, food, natural resources and the energy sector.
See a few highlights on our Facebook page.
Mission Message
The Nebraska FFA Foundation invests in agricultural education and FFA for nearly 12,000 FFA members and their advisors in Nebraska by growing leaders, building communities and creating career connections.
