June 2019 Nebraska FFA Foundation Newsletter

Leadership. Tradition. True Blue.

JUNE 2019

TRUE BLUE NEBRASKA NEWS

Congratulations, and thank you!

The past few months have been busy for Nebraska FFA. Nebraska FFA State Convention was held April 3-5 in Lincoln. Almost 100 awards were presented at state convention for events ranging from the Agronomy Career Development Event to the Senior Public Speaking Leadership Development Event.

Also, announced at state convention were the 2019-2020 Nebraska FFA State Officers. They are pictured above left to right:

State President: Kooper Jelinek, West Holt FFA

State Secretary: Savannah Gerlach, Tri County FFA

State Vice President: Weston Svoboda, Burwell FFA

State Vice President: Megan Fehr, Sutton FFA

State Vice President: Faith Santana, Auburn FFA

State Vice President: Sam Wilkins, Ainsworth FFA

State Vice President: Luke Krabel, Adams Central FFA

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is proud of Nebraska’s agricultural education students who put in the hard work to prepare for state convention, and are very grateful for the many sponsors and donors who contributed to make these award programs possible.

View more photos from state convention and the results at neaged.org.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2018-19 Nebraska FFA Foundation Board Kyla Habrock, President Lance Atwater, Vice President Vernon Benes, Secretary Shane Belohrad, Treasurer Tim Boender Kim Fehringer Andrea Collins Jeff Rudolph Justin Troudt Jennifer Wood Glenn Baumert Matt Dolch Craig Head Jerry Lentfer Dean Settje Kris Spath, NAEA Representative Matt Kreifels, Nebraska FFA Association Board Representative Richard Douglass, Nebraska FFA Alumni Representative Stacey Agnew, Ex-Officio, Executive Director

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Rise

Like many others who have worn the FFA jacket I have fond memories of early morning bus rides to district contests, making new friends at conferences and traveling to State and National Convention as a member of the Gothenburg FFA Chapter.

I have continued to be involved with FFA into my professional career. Now I serve as the Nebraska FFA Foundation President. I’m excited about the important work the foundation is accomplishing to grow leaders, build communities and strengthen agriculture!

Did you know that the United States Department of Agriculture reports a 40 percent shortage annually in college graduates with experience with agriculture, food and natural resources?

STAFF

Nebraska FFA Foundation Staff

This is why I’m passionate about FFA because we need more students with career ready skills and experiences in agriculture to fill high demand jobs in Nebraska, all across the US and globally.

If we are not preparing more students who have those skills and experiences, we will continue to have society, right in our backyard and across the globe misunderstand agriculture and its impact on global opportunities and challenges.

Stacey Agnew, Executive Director Sarah Mullen, Development and Marketing Manager Victoria Broders, Program Coordinator Abby Steffen, Development Coordinator

SAVE THE DATE

Upcoming Events

I am proud of the work we do at the Nebraska FFA Foundation to celebrate and elevate young agricultural leaders. Thank you for providing momentum to propel success for students, communities and agriculture in Nebraska higher and higher.

September 11, 2019 Nebraska FFA Tire Auction Husker Harvest Days, Grand Island, NE April 1-3, 2020 Nebraska FFA State Convention Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE

Kyla Habrock President, Board of Directors Nebraska FFA Foundation 2

Rich Katt, left, Seth Derner and Stacey Agnew announced the endowment during the 91st Nebraska FFA State Convention.

CELEBRATING A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP

Rich Katt Legacy of Leadership Endowment Announced On Friday, April 5, the Nebraska FFA Foundation announced the creation of the Rich Katt Legacy of Leadership Endowment.

guidance extended not just in FFA, but in life and he has an ability to see the potential in others that they don’t even see in themselves.”

Rich Katt worked for the Nebraska Department of Education for over 37 years. He served as an administrator, state director, Nebraska FFA state advisor and Nebraska FFA executive secretary.

During his time as state advisor and executive secretary, he had over seven national officers and worked with over 20 state officer teams. He retired in July 2018.

To honor the legacy of leadership that Rich has left behind, the Nebraska FFA Foundation announced the creation of the Rich Katt Legacy of Leadership Endowment during the final session of the 2019 Nebraska FFA State Convention.

This endowment will be used to support Nebraska FFA state officer development to continue the legacy of leadership Rich established.

Rich had a passion for developing people. Seth Derner, former National FFA President and former Nebraska FFA North Central Area Vice President, says “Rich Katt is not just our former State Advisor, he is a mentor and friend to many of us who walked the state officer path. Rich’s

LEAD DONORS: Donnell and Kelli Brown Chris and Marsha Kalkowski Lee and Heidi Thurber Neal and Marcy Lewis

Seth and Carrie Derner Kevin and Julie Oschner Matt and Donelle Wolters

Blake and Holly Johnson Kevin and Laurie Sagehorn Dana and Julie Soukup

To contribute to the Rich Katt Legacy of Leadership Endowment, go to neffafoundation.org/support_us and select Rich Katt Legacy of Leadership Endowment as the Fund Designation.

Questions? Contact Stacey Agnew at (402) 472-5846.

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INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Thank You For Supporting Nebraska’s Youth

These companies have partnered with Nebraska FFA and the Nebraska FFA Foundation by donating at least $5,000. Thank you for your support of programs that develop Nebraska’s agriculture youth.

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)

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

MEMBER FDIC

Livestock

Marketing · Credit · Commodities

4-Star Sponsors ($5,000 - $9,999) AHI/Zoetis Heartland Ag Union Pacific Foundation Nebraska FFA Alumni Council Nebraska Corn Board Ag Processing Inc. Agri-Services Agency LLC BASF The Chemical Company Dultmeier Sales

Extreme Ag, Inc. Green Plains Inc. Heartland Tank, LLC Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC Liberty Mutual Insurance Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau Midwest PMS/Biegert Feed Nationwide Insurance

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Nebraska Beef, Ltd. Performance Plus Liquids Reinke Manufacturing Company, Inc Simplot Army/ROTC Cornerstone Bank

I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF AG CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Record-breaking I Believe in the Future of Ag Donations

Nebraska FFA chapters broke the record from 2017-18 by nearly $70,000 by receiving over $412,000 from local donors through the 2018-19 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. Chapters receive 100 percent of all funds directed to them and a portion of a $35,000 matching grant provided by the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

This year, 123 of the 189 Nebraska FFA chapters participated in the campaign. The average total donation per chapter was over $3,000 from local donors.

Chapters are rewarded for receiving at least $500 in donations and participating in the sponsor engagement contest. Those top chapters receiving recognition this year are the following: McCool Junction FFA, Ravenna FFA, Elgin FFA, O’Neill FFA, Heartland FFA, Johnson County Central FFA, Verdigre FFA, Litchfield FFA, Riverside FFA, Lakeview FFA and Oakland-Craig FFA.

GRANT PROGRAM

Grant Opportunities for Agricultural Education Programs and Students

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is now seeking applications for 2019-20 local chapter grants and storm relief fund grants.

New this year, FFA members and chapters can apply through the same application form for the storm relief fund grant provided by many generous donations. The storm relief fund was established to provide resources to Nebraska FFA members and chapters in communities affected by the devastating floods and blizzards.

The deadline for the storm relief fund grant and donations is June 30.

The local chapter grant program, in its third year, supports Nebraska agricultural education classrooms, FFA programs and individual student entrepreneurship Supervised Agricultural Experiences. Funds are provided by supporters of the Nebraska FFA Foundation and its general fund donors.

This year, grant requests may be any amount up to $10,000 each. Applications are being accepted until June 30, 2019. Successful proposals from 2018-19 varied from greenhouse repairs to a CNC router to grow towers to animal learning lab.

Deadline to apply or donate: June 30 Learn more: neffafoundation.org

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BRADEN BADERTSCHER “POWER YOUR POTENTIAL” ENDOWMENT

Four FFA Members Awarded Badertscher Grant Braden Badertscher “Power Your Potential” Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Grants were awarded during state convention by Tony and Jane Badertscher. The goal of the SAE grants are to start or expand an entrepreneurship SAE in the area of power, structure and technical systems.

The award, sponsored by the Braden Badertscher “Power Your Potential” endowment, is in memory of Braden Badertscher, the 2013 winner of the Ag Mechanics Repair and MaintenanceEntrepreneurship Proficiency Award.

RECIPIENTS: Stetson Kaufman, Keya Paha FFA

Bradly Miksch, Stuart FFA

Shane Fessler, McCool Junction FFA

Wyatt Prewitt, Keya Paha FFA

GARY SCHARF HELPING HAND AWARD WINNER

Kevin Anderson Lyons-Decatur N.E. FFA Advisor Receives Award The Nebraska FFA Foundation presented Mr. Kevin Anderson, Lyons-Decatur N.E. FFA advisor, with the 2019 Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award at the Nebraska FFA Convention on Thursday, April 4.

Kevin Anderson, Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award Winner

Anderson, FFA advisor for the Lyons-Decatur N.E. FFA chapter, was nominated for the award with support by colleagues and community members. Kylie Penke, whom nominated Anderson shared that “Kevin gravitates toward leadership roles…He has been a teacher for twenty years and served as president of the Elim Church Council and Lyons Community Foundation. He has raised his children to be active in 4-H and FFA, and has lead their 6

4-H clubs. In all of the organizations mentioned, Kevin has been active in selecting and distributing college scholarships to youth all over the country!”

The Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award recognizes a Nebraska agriculture teacher or FFA advisor for what he or she has done in helping others, specifically in the school and community outside of agriculture education and FFA. Anderson was announced as the award winner during the Nebraska FFA State Convention in Lincoln.

He received a plaque and $500 cash award from the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

DONOR AND PAST STATE OFFICER EVENT

Nebraska FFA Donor and Past State Officer Celebration 25-Year Team: (back, left to right): Jason Kubik, Ryan Soukup and Seth Derner, (front, left to right) Denice HeftieSchoelerman, Janna Quaring, Stacey Barger-Agnew and Sherry Frey. Not pictured Brian Uhlir.

1978 - 1979 State Officer Team

1998 - 1999 State Officer Team

2003 - 2004 State Officer Team

2013 - 2014 State Officer Team

Almost 100 guests joined us at the Nebraska FFA Foundation Past State Officer and Special Donor Reception and Celebration during Nebraska FFA State Convention.

During the celebration, the Nebraska FFA Foundation honored teams with an anniversary in five-year increments. The 1993-1994 team celebrated their 25-year anniversary by performing opening ceremonies during the final session of convention. They are pictured above.

Those teams were also invited to attend special tours of the University of Nebraska­­— Lincoln East Campus, The Career Academy Agriculture Classroom and greenhouse and Memorial Stadium.

To find additional photos of this year’s event, go to neffafoundation.org.

WAYS TO GIVE

Your Support

There are many ways to support the Nebraska FFA Foundation. Visit neffafoundation.org to learn how you can help the Nebraska FFA Foundation enhance quality education/FFA programs to achieve excellence in leadership development, curriculum innovation and scholastic advancement of students.

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PO Box 94942 Lincoln, NE 68509-4942 neffafoundation.org (402) 472-5224

@neffafoundation

WHAT YOU’LL FIND INSIDE 3 Rich Katt Legacy of Leadership Endowment Announced

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Record-breaking I Believe in the Future of Ag Results

2018-19 Helping Hand Award Presented