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2022-2023 Annual Report

NEBRASKA FFA FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP

2022-23 Board of Directors

The Nebraska FFA Foundation’s Board of Directors is made up of passionate volunteers that provide leadership and strategic governance for the organization. These individuals are active fundraisers and provide oversight for the Nebraska FFA Foundation. John Langemeier, President James Nygren Jeff Moore, Ex-officio, Nebraska FFA Matt Dolch, Vice President Kyle Perry Association Representative Katherine Byrne, Secretary Ron Prestonv Richard Douglass, Ex-officio, Nebraska FFA Alumni and Supporters Glenn Baumert, Treasurer Alli Raymond Representative Cary Becker Dean Settje Kris Spath, Ex-officio, Nebraska Mark Fahleson Jeremy Wilhelm Agriculture Educators Association Teresa Ibach Linne Vavrina Representative Brady Jenschke Jennifer Wood Stacey Agnew, Ex-offcio, Executive Jerry Lentfer Director

2022-23 Sustainable Funding Team This volunteer team is dedicated to the implementation of the Nebraska FFA Foundation’s sustainable funding model to increase individual engagement and giving to support the mission of the Nebraska FFA Foundation. Stacey Agnew Mark Fahleson Morgan Ochsner RanDee Barger Kyla Habrock Alli Raymond Glenn Baumert Spencer Hartman Jessica Rudolph Katherine Byrne Jerry Lentfer Ed Woeppel Matt Dolch Ashley McCarter Jennifer Wood

Nebraska FFA Foundation Staff Stacey Agnew EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Victoria Broders

Makenna Kirchhoff

PROGRAM MANAGER

COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

Ashley McCarter DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Kyla Habrock DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Dear Friends, As we share our annual report with you, we especially like to share impact stories about Nebraska and its members, programs, and teachers. We know that it’s up to them to grow a bright future for agricultural education and FFA. We know it is up to us at the Nebraska FFA Foundation to financially invest in them. We want to recognize the individuals, groups, and companies that cultivate sustainable resources through the Nebraska FFA Foundation that make the fulfillment of our mission and work possible. Our mission is to invest in agricultural education and FFA for nearly 12,000 Nebraska FFA members and their advisors by growing leaders, building communities, and creating career connections. In growing leaders, the Nebraska FFA Foundation continues to support teachers through professional development funding. Professional development helps to strengthen teachers’ skills and knowledge. For a non-traditional Agricultural Education and English teacher, like Kylie Kinley, from Lawrence Nelson, there are always new skills to learn. You will be inspired by her story of overcoming “imposter” syndrome by attending a Curriculum for Agriculture Science (CASE) Training which helped her feel like she had the tools to give her students a high-quality, hands-on agriculture education. In building communities, our local chapter grant program continues to fill the gaps between local resources and what it takes to maintain quality programming. Your support has helped agriculture education programs like Johnson-Block’s School-Based Enterprise, JB Lawn Mower Maintenance business. Students are learning valuable skills in agricultural sales and services, in addition to owning and operating a business with fellow students. In creating career connections, Nebraska FFA members continue to get hands-on experience with their Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE). Morgan Bonifas received an SAE grant from the Nebraska FFA Foundation to buy a hobby greenhouse and watering system for her fall mum sales and bedding plants. She continued to grow her business and this year won the Specialty Crop Production Proficiency at the Nebraska State FFA Convention and was a National Proficiency Finalist. We need to continue to support more FFA members who are exploring how to start a business in agriculture. We are committed to the day when we have successfully addressed the growing needs of agricultural education students, teachers, and programs so Nebraska FFA and local FFA programs have all the resources they need. However, it is up to us to make sure these resources are in place for our leaders of tomorrow who will be the workforce and advocates for agriculture. Your support is important in this effort. We encourage you to continue reading these stories that highlight how your support has made a difference. Thank you for your commitment to agriculture education students and FFA members. Sincerely,

Stacey Agnew

John Langemeier

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Nebraska FFA Foundation

BOARD PRESIDENT Nebraska FFA Foundation

Growing Leaders Transitional Teachers Grow Leaders it through ag literacy, writing proficiency applications, debating ag topics, and more. Kinley finds many ways to engage students in learning outside of the classroom. One of her favorite ways to do this is through food, which is something everyone can relate to. Last year, Kinley was awarded a CASE scholarship through the Nebraska FFA Foundation where she received her certification to use and teach the CASE Food Science Course. This curriculum includes engaging content on food science, safety, processing, and more. Another way that Miss Kinley engages her students is through hands-on experiences with Tower Gardens and by using their upcycled greenhouse turned chicken coop. They currently house 36 chickens, approximately one for every student in the program.

Agriculture teachers are well known for their ability to cover a wide range of subject areas and tie them back to the agriculture industry. Transitional agriculture education teachers are no exception. These individuals take a nontraditional route to becoming teachers, shifting from their original career path towards being an educator. Kylie Kinley, one of two transitional agriculture education teachers at Lawrence-Nelson, combines her unique experiences to empower her students to advocate for agriculture.

Kinley found that Teaching is a labor of love, as she seeks moments of joy every day with her students. “I became a teacher because I wanted a daily influence on students who looked at the world differently,” she shared. “You may not see the fruits of your labor right away, but you hope that someday down the road, students will experience the impact of your efforts. What a gift that I get to be a part of that!”

Growing up on a row crop farm and cowcalf operation, Kinley was always passionate about the story of agriculture. In high school, while working for her local newspaper, Kinley found an outlet for this passion through the content she was writing. This led her to pursue a degree in english. After college, she worked in publishing and extension, but stayed connected and involved with FFA by serving as a judge for numerous contests. Eventually she realized she wanted to use her skill sets to do more for agriculture education students.

Miss Kinley’s passion for storytelling and agriculture has grown into an incredible opportunity for students. With the motivation to be a teacher like she had in high school, she provides students with new experiences and pushes them out of their comfort zone. Although being a transitional teacher can be challenging, Miss Kinley focuses on how she can help students build their confidence in a supportive program by utilizing her passion for communication and agriculture.

When Kinley applied for the English position at Lawrence-Nelson, she took a chance and asked if she could also teach agriculture. Being both an English and agriculture teacher proves to be useful for her students. Often, they find some crossover between papers that they write and speeches that they can use for Leadership Development Events (LDEs). Communication is something that students will do for the rest of their lives, and effective communication about agriculture is essential. They can practice

Building Communities Empowering Students with Entrepreneurship called JB Lawn Mower Maintenance. A schoolbased enterprise is a business at the school that is created and operated by the students. The students run the business by deciding the cost for their maintenance, invoices, paying rent to the school, marketing, customer service, and budgeting for business expenses. Their business has 15-20 lawn mowers to work on each year, where they focus on oil changes and blade sharpening. Eventually they hope to expand to services related to the engine. Thomas Gerdes, Johnson-Brock FFA member, said, “The lawn mower maintenance business impacted my education because it allowed me to put what skills I already have to use and gave me a chance to learn more. One example was setting the business up and keeping documents and supplies accounted for. We were able to learn more, be more productive, and be more efficient by staying organized.”

The Johnson-Brock agricultural classroom and shop was able to have a dream idea come to life with the help of the Nebraska FFA Foundation Grant in 2022.

Another Johnson-Brock FFA member, Nic Parriott, said, “I’d say it gives a good demonstration of what it’s like to work on something that isn’t brand new out of a box. It helped with troubleshooting whether it was trying to figure out how something came off and went back on or how to perform basic maintenance on something that maybe someone hasn’t done before.”

The grant funding was able to help purchase metal to reconfigure their oxyfuel booths to create more space along with purchasing lighting for the welding booths, portable welding carts, portable welding curtains, mobile tool boxes, lawn mower ramps, and an air cleaner. Ashton Bohling, the agriculture teacher at Johnson-Brock, said,” a hands-on experience is vital for students. Students are more engaged and take more ownership of these projects.”

The Johnson-Brock agricultural classroom and JB Lawn Mower Maintenance are impacting their community one lawn mower at a time and teaching students real-world skills that they can use forever.

Students in Bohling’s agribusiness class decided to start a school-based enterprise

NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

Record-Setting Numbers

Agricultural education prepares students for careers in agriculture, food and natural resources. Our population is growing, and jobs and careers in all sectors of agriculture are vital to keeping up with the global demand for agriculture and food production.

2021-22:

2022-23:

204: chapters in Nebraska

208: chapters in Nebraska

229: agriculture teachers and FFA

248: agriculture teachers and FFA

10,454: FFA members in Nebraska

11,640: FFA members in Nebraska

advisors in Nebraska

Creating Career Connections From A Pandemic Hobby to The Big Stage sale items at their pumpkin stand and was surprised when people kept asking for more. Since then, Bonifas has grown her business, now raising over 150 pots of mums and creating custom pots. Just like most success stories, Bonifas’s didn’t come without roadblocks along the way. Crop disease and lack of funds created barriers that could only be overcome through hard work and a drive to succeed. In 2021, Bonifas received a Supervised Agricultural Experience Grant from the Nebraska FFA Foundation that she used to purchase a new fertilization system. “I am grateful for the foundation grant since I have been investing my own money,” shared Bonifas. “It gave me the financial freedom to take the next step in my business.”

Morgan Bonifas, a senior in the Auroura FFA chapter, experienced a surreal moment when she found out she was selected as a National FFA proficiency finalist. After two years of investment, her hard work finally paid off. Bonifas’s Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE), Bonifas’s Mums and More, an idea that spurred from boredom during the pandemic, grew into something more than she ever imagined.

Throughout her experience, the most important thing Bonifas has learned is the value of communication. From communicating with her agronomist on crop issues to interacting with customers, she found that success was built on this skill. She plans on pursuing an undergraduate degree in agricultural communications to continue polishing this craft.

Bonifas’s entrepreneurial drive grew from another business venture with her two brothers—Kuntry Kids Pumpkins, a specialty gourd and pumpkin business. As her brothers grew up, parts of the business were passed down to her. Motivated by her love for plants and extra time on her hands during the pandemic, Bonifas decided to try something new and invest her time and money into 50 pots of mums. She added them to the list of

Bonifas will continue her SAE for another year as she pursues her American FFA Degree. After that, she hopes to continue it or pass it on to other determined FFA members. Students like Bonifas serve as an inspiration to others. With hard work and a drive to succeed, anyone can make it under those bright lights on the big stage.

WAYS TO GIVE

Your Support

You can support the Nebraska FFA Foundation by investing in agricultural education and FFA for nearly 12,000 FFA members and their advisors by growing leaders, building communities and creating career connections. It’s easy! Go to neffafoundation.org/support_us or return the enclosed envelope with your gift to donate today.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION: AUGUST 1, 2022-JULY 31, 2023

Your Donation Impacts Nebraska FFA Members, Advisors, State Officers and Chapters Expenses: $1,471,546

The average program dollars invested per agricultural education program in 2022-23 was

Operating Revenue: $1,617,929 Total Net Assets: $3,499,831

$5,534.19

Annual Programming Expenses Local Chapter Programs

2% State Fair

Agriculture Teacher 3% Activities Leadership Programming

Awards and Recognition

37%

I Believe in the Future of Ag

True Blue 3% State Convention 7% FFA Jacket Fund 3% Fundraising

12% Management and General

9% 7

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Thank You For Supporting Nebraska’s Youth These groups of corporate sponsors supported the Nebraska FFA Foundation True Blue program, I Believe in the Future of Ag corporate program, general fund, annual auction, state fair, local grants, Blue Jackets. Bright Futures. Program and Nebraska FFA Association programming.

Premier Sponsors ($25,000 or more)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources & Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication

6-Star Sponsors ($15,000 - $24,999)

Business, industry and donor visits with the state officers this past summer.

5-Star Sponsors ($10,000 - $14,999)

4-Star Sponsors ($5,000 - $9,999)

S A L E S TM

3 Star sponsors and below are available at neffafoundation.org or by using the QR code.

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS True Blue Society Your multiple year gift of at least $1,000 per year supports the Nebraska FFA Foundation’s investment in agricultural education and FFA for nearly 12,000 FFA members and their advisors. Gift of the Rising Sun - $50,000 Shane and Kelli Belohrad Dan and Patricia Kreitman

Gift of Corn - $5,000 Brian and Stacey Agnew Andrew and Alix Ambriz Britt and Jolene Anderson

Seth and Carrie Derner Doug and Mary Derscheid Matthew and Dana Dolch Nathan and Tonia Dorn Neal Ely Mark and Sara Fahleson Tom and Helen Feller Larry and Fay Gossen Mat and Kyla Habrock Matthew and Lori Hannan Clinton and Jody Hoffman Alec and Meredith Ibach Greg and Teresa Ibach Blaine and Brady Jenschke Aaron and Kori Jensen

Neal and Marcy Lewis Wayne and Lori Luebbe Pete McClymont Dan Morgan Bob and Betsy Nelson Lee and Brenda Nelson Brad and Pam Nygren James and Julie Nygren Keith and Doris Olsen Kirk and Tracy Olson Kyle and Catherine Perry Randy Robeson, In honor of Buddy Robeson Mike Roeber Jeff and Brenda Rudolph

Brian Andreasen Lance and Krystal Atwater Glenn and Lynn Baumert Cary and Barb Becker Vernon and Shelly Benes John H. Bergmeyer Anthony and Lisa Brass Gerald and Beverly Clausen Richard L. Cockerill Tony and Andrea Collins Heidi Cuca Rick and the late Carol Damkroger

Drew and Lyndsay Jensen Judson and Kaye Jesske Blake and Holly Johnson Richard and Sharon Katt Kris Kavan and Linne Vavrina Scott and Tara Keetle Margaretha Kloepping Gary and Diane Kubicek and Family Jason and Carey Kubik John and Lisa Langemeier Laura Linden Jerry and Tess Lentfer

Brian and Paula Schellpeper Rod Schroeder, In Honor of Don Tyser Gordon and Pat Smith Chad and Leah Trausch Bob and Lana Urban Tom and Debbie Volk Jack H. and Janice Welch Tom and Jennifer Wood Donelle and Matt Wolters Holly Wittstruck Memorial Derek and Amanda Wright Korey and Tammy Young

Gift of Plow - $25,000 Frank J. Fleecs Ron and Lisa Preston Bill Pullen Jeremy and Irene Wilhelm Jerry and Naomi Warner

Blue and Gold Society Your long-term planned gift can help meet various needs, including the support for new FFA chapters and new programming at both the state and local levels. Planned gifts can be through named funds, endowed funds, bequests, life insurance and annuity beneficiary designations, other financial account designations, charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. Brian and Stacey Agnew Glenn G. and Lynn R. Baumert Frank J. Fleecs

Kurt and Sarah Heideman Richard and Lanelle Herink Judson and Kaye Jesske

Richard and Sharon Katt Jerry and Teresa Lentfer Family Jack and Nancy Nemec

Diana Yearsley

Tribute Donations This group of individuals supported the Nebraska FFA Foundation by donating in honor or in memory of an individual. Curtis Cheney Richard and Sharon Katt Darlene Overleese Anonymous Dr. Ted Ward Richard and Ann Perry Daniel & Sherry Acheson Randy and Karen DeBoer Alexis Saskowski Becky Bristol Bob and Marlene Pedulla Bryan and LaNette Sunnquist Byron and Amber Wilke Darwin D. Pace

Evelyn Sampson Myrna Stewart David Knabe Sam Sampson Lonna Allison Krystl Knabe and Cody Knopp John A. Rudolph Rod & Sandra Sindt 2015-16 State FFA Officer Team Dee Rudolph Andrea Dinkelman Gage Hoegermeyer Keri Votruba Ron Badertscher Julie Collett Tony and Jane Badertscher David and Janet Bashaw Gloria Cook Kathleen Snyder Trust Dean and Nicole Acheson Greg Sneesby Kendell Henderson Michael and Janice Donn and Julianne High West Energy Kirk and Debra Evertson Nelson Randall James Winjum L. Keith Staehr Randy and Donna Vlasin Duane and Connie Jeri Lea and Kerry Lawrence and Diane Richard and Sharon Katt Lienemann Ferguson Engstrom Susan Durham Revocable Erwin Jr. and Paula Wilke John and Marcia Moritz Lawrence Snyder Trust F. Bert Linn John Perry Marc Wittstruck Terry Madden George and Janet Barp Karen D. Robinson Marcia Vanlandingham William Thomas Young

Individual Donors This group of individuals supported the Nebraska FFA Foundation general fund, state convention, state fair, Blue Jackets. Bright Futures program and Nebraska FFA Association programming. Thank you to these donors that have invested in Nebraska FFA. $1,000 or more Bill White Bob and Cynthia Milligan Brian and Heidi Wright Cody and Julie Blood Dee Rudolph Kenyon Schuett Kevin and Julie Ochsner Lee and Heidi Thurber Margaretha Kloepping Robert and Leanne Maxwell Ronnie and Jane Green Scott and Deb Beckman $500-$999 Aaron and Alli Raymond Barton and Lynne Ruth Betty and Duane Starr Brad and Wendy Wilkins Bruce and Jean Wendt Cory Johnson Dennis and Julie Jarecke Doug Jose Eddie George and Heather Stringer Gene and Rose Wissenburg Grady Johnson Greg and Patti Hoegermeyer Jason Lee James and Sarah Mullen Kendell Henderson Krystl Knabe and Cody Knopp Leah Vetter Les and Nancy Buckley Linda Hoke Mark and Willow Holoubek Matthew Wiegand Neal Kanel Norris and Lynnet Talcott Philip and Shirley Johnson Rebecca Dishman Richard Hahn Richard Seckman Ryan and Kristen Hassebrook Sara Adamson Susan Krotz-Smydra The Late Daniel and Sherry Acheson $100-$499 Abbie Nordhausen Al and Mary Lerch Al and Sallie Atkins Allan Ketteler Alyce Leininger Amanda Clymer Andrea Dinkelman Andrew and Bonnie Jensen Andrew and Victoria Broders Andrew Gorecki Arianna Shay Asha Scheideler Austin Woltemath Barb and Kevin Kock Barrie and Ann Luers Beth Feller

Bill and RanDee Barger Blake Preston Blythe McAfee Bob and Karen McNeff Bob and Stephanie Liska Bob Campbell Boone McAfee Brad Bauer Brennan Costello Brian and Ann Marie Bosshamer Brian Stevens Brooke Preston Bruce and Cheryl Trautman Bruce Reeder Calvin and Rita Fix Calvin Qualset Candy Otte Carol Yost Chad and Jessica Randles Chris Robinett Claude and Linda Jensen Cliff and Mary Ehlers Colin and Nicole Kubik Connie Weston Dale and Deborah Grosbach Dale and Linda Zoerb Dale Linsenmeyer Dan and Cindi Wolfe Dan and Kris Reed Daniel R. Ripa Daniel Roeber Dann and Laure Husmann Darin Dubas Darin Uhlir Darlene Overleese Dave and Joan Loseke Dave and Victoria Barnard David and Alyce Tejral David and Becky Grimes David Havlovic David Polivka Dayle E. Williamson Debra and Colton Williams Dennis and Gail Bazata Dennis and Mary Ellen Wychulis Dennis and Natalie Toalson Dennis Stara Derek and Allison Sandman Don and Donna Hutchens Don Esch Donald J. Merlo Donn and Julianne Randall Doug and Darla Voigt Doug and Jenise Straight Dustin and Stacey Fletcher Ed and Lisa Woeppel Edie Kavan Eric and Megan Dam Eric Anderson Eva Roubal Francis Emanuel Fred and Kay Reed Garry and Sharon Young Gary and Betsy Raymer

Gary L Bredehoft Gene and Alfretta Claver Grant Janousek Greg and Barb Bonifas Homer Buell Jack Specht Jaclyn Frey Jacob and Katherine Byrne James and Megan Kroupa James Paschal Jane Krause Janet Stephenson Janice Bopp Janna Quaring Jason and Kylie Penke Jed Erickson Jeff Moore Jeff Schellpeper Jerry and Arlene Johnson Jill Beckman Kill Jim and Mary Spath Jim Farley Joe Nerud Joel and Stephanie Miller John and Ashley Goertzen John and Barb Scharf Jon and Jean Katt Jon Sonderup Jonathan and Abbie Rempel Jonathan Lanik Josh and Amie Broz Josh and Krystle Friesen Judy Meier Judy Tejral Justin and Kimberley Troudt Kaila Mailahn Kalby Wehrbein Karl and Margaret Hensley Karlene Johnson Keith and Brenda Anderson Kelly and Keri Jelinek Ken and Mary Madden Kennard and Linda Pohlman Kevin Henrichson Kimberly and the late Lonnie Goff Kristin Dolecheck Kurt and Kari Loseke Kurt and Sarah Heideman Kyle and Emilia Brozek Larry and Marian Cerny Leon and Susan Wissmann Leslie Denning Leslie Oswald Lloyd Bell Logan Peters Lois Linke Lori Samuelson Lucas and Jennifer Haag Lynda Suhr Lynn and Kathy Gloystein Marilyn Houdek Mark and Ann Lavin Mark and Kristi Gustafson Mark Hahn Farms Inc Mark Peitzmeier

Matthew Korinek Merlin R. Prior Michael and Mary Pat Hoag Michael Fuchs Michael Vyhlidal Michelle Meyer Mike and Rebecca Vales Mike and Sara Scholz Mike Barrett Mike Roeber Mike Sandall Milt and Joann Fricke Nathan and Charity Wyatt Neal and Nancy Schlautman Nora Turner and Tom Jensen Norm and Shirley Fritz Pam Miller Randy and Donna Vlasin Randy and Karen DeBoer Ray and the Late Jolene Ward Reid and Mckenzie Ely Richard and Ann Perry Richard and Annette Renken Richard and Lanelle Herink Robert Sindt Robert Wright Roger Lempke Roland Langemeier Ron and Beth Fitzke Ron and Lois Burns Russell and Susan Fritz Ryan and Kerry Hoffschneider Sam and Jody Most Sandra Sattler-Weber Sarah Schoenrock Scott and Jackie France Scott and Judy Getzschman Shana Beattie Shane and Kelly K. Terrell Spencer and Katie Kock Stacey Howsden Stacie Higgins Stacie Turnbull Stan and Susan Penke Steve and Jessie Waller Steve and Verlyne R. Grasz Steve Gruber Steward and Kris Spath Sue Volk Susan Kracl Tammy Meyer Terissa Brown Tim and Janet Foss Tim Esser Timothy and Jenny Higgins TJ and Shae Schneider Todd Nitsch Tom and Judy Dobbe Tom Sutko Trevor Spath Troy Otte Tyler Barger William & Carleen Barger Zachary Gray Zane Johnson

Nebraska FFA Foundation PO Box 94942 Lincoln, NE 68509-4942

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.

2022-2023 Nebraska State Officer Team 12