True Blue Nebraska NewsA U G U S T 2 0 1 4Leadership. Tradition. True Blue

FFA: Impact Beyond ImaginationI believe everything happens for a purpose. In the spring of 2012, my school began its first agricultural education program. As I became involved in FFA activities that summer, I thought FFA would be a unique, exciting activity I could do among my other commitments. However, I quickly realized that its purpose was much greater than I

could have ever imagined.

In the fall of 2012, I walked into my first “Intro to Ag” class. Being a ranch girl, I felt that I had a decent understanding of agriculture, and I kept an open mind to new knowledge and information. I soon found myself asking numerous questions and soaking up any and all information I could about FFA, leadership and agriculture. FFA intrigued me. I was amazed by the traditions and unity of the program. Taking an active role in FFA helped me realize that I was a part of something much bigger than simply my school or state. I had officially joined over 550,000 students nationwide that are passionate about leadership within agriculture.

I was like many students and FFA members – blown away by the opportunities available through the organization. I could compete in public speaking through Leadership Skills Events; I could apply my technical agriculture skills through Career Development Events; I could meet other students involved in all sectors of agriculture across our state and nation. FFA was developing me as a citizen preparing to hold my future career.

It’s easy to get hooked on FFA. What I couldn’t comprehend, however, was the reason FFA has so much to offer. There is a much bigger purpose of FFA than what many of us realize. FFA is one smaller component of the bigger picture of agricultural education. The fact is, FFA doesn’t exist as a stand-alone organization; it’s a component of an agricultural education program. As a student member, as a state officer and as a future agriculture instructor, I now understand how critical it is for our state to support and encourage existing and future agriculture programs and their instructors.

Looking back at my experiences as a high school member of FFA, I consider myself truly blessed. I am genuinely thankful for my agricultural background and humble beginnings in the program. My life will be forever impacted, thanks to the adventures and growth I encountered and continue to experience through FFA.

A successful program is possible with passionate students, a dedicated teacher, a contributing school and community and a supportive FFA Foundation. On behalf of Nebraska FFA, thank you for your support, which continues to provide members with experiences and opportunities that develop them as premier leaders and prepare them for careers. Continue seeking ways that you can invest in young people to grow them as citizens of our communities and state.

Sincerely,

Paige Dexter,State President, Nebraska FFA Association

1

Join us for Ice Cream Social at the Nebraska State Fairhosted by the Nebraska FFA Foundation

October marks the official start of the fifth annual I Believe in the Future of Ag fundraising campaign. This campaign serves as an outlet for local FFA chapters to raise money for innovative projects in their classrooms, leadership programming, community service projects and

field trips to advance agriculture education in their schools.

This year, the Nebraska FFA Foundation will challenge local FFA chapters to raise a total of $250,000 for their local FFA chapters. 100 percent of each local donation will be sent back to the designated chapter at the end of the campaign and the Nebraska FFA Foundation, along with 20 corporate partners, will provide extra incentives to participating FFA chapters. This year, $24,000 in matching funds will be distributed to participating chapters proportionate to the dollars they raise.

“Agriculture is the lifeblood of this state with one in three jobs based in agriculture. We see this campaign as integral part of local FFA chapters and the future of agriculture by providing funds to develop a rich program of activities benefiting students, their local communities and their future,” says Stacey Agnew, Nebraska FFA Foundation Executive Director.

The Foundation suggests that each Ag Ed program brainstorm a specific purpose or project for their fundraising efforts, whether that’s building a greenhouse, a livestock facility, a community service

project, buying classroom supplies, leadership conference scholarships or supporting local disaster relief.

Agnew says, “I’d like to challenge everyone in Nebraska to donate something to their local Ag Ed program and FFA chapter. Whether it’s $10 or $500, it’ll make a difference.”

Nebraska FFA Foundation Challenges Local FFA Chapters to Raise $250,000I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign kicks off

2

Stuart FFA members received recognition at State FFA Convention for raising the most money per FFA member. They will use their funds to purchase equipment to expand curriculum used in the classroom. They will also be building a greenhouse and animal lab to enhance supervised agricultural experience (SAE) opportunities.

Saturday, August 305:00-7:00 p.m.Nebraska State Fair Hospitality Suitein the upper level of the Arena

Bring your family, grab some free ice cream, get updates on Nebraska FFA and register to have an FFA jacket donated in your name.

Learn more about the I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign at www.neffafoundation.org or by contacting your local FFA chapter.

Several agriculture teachers and a pre-service agriculture teacher participated in this year’s Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) Institute hosted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL). In the third year UNL has hosted the CASE Institute, the focus of this year’s conference was Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal.

This course is foundation-level curriculum for agriculture education students. It engages students in laboratories and activities that explore animal agriculture, including history and use of animals, cells and tissues, animal nutrition, genetics and animal handling, among other topics.

Once an agriculture teacher has completed this 70-hour intense professional development workshop, they are certified to teach this specific course. Teachers practice teaching lessons, follow through with each lesson themselves and CASE Institute instructors determine if each teacher is adequately prepared to provide instruction using CASE curricula.

One of the Nebraska FFA Foundation’s key strategy areas is to support Nebraska agriculture teachers and with the shortage of ag teachers that we are seeing, the Foundation believes this is a very valuable initation. It is also costly. The Foundation is proud to partner with the Nebraska Soybean Board, CHS Foundation and the Nebraska Pork Producers to help

offset the cost of this conference. The Foundation believes that this conference is a valuable tool for agriculture teachers to excel and remain happy in their profession.

Donor Spotlight: Linda EvansThere’s nothing Linda Evans wouldn’t do for FFA.

After being involved with FFA for 35 years, Evans wants to help in any way possible whether it’s by judging, volunteering or supporting monetarily.

She watched her three children, Kelli (Evans) Brown, Kory Evans and Jodi (Evans) Propst, grow up and excel in FFA in their own way. She says that FFA was a big part of inspiration for her family’s life.

When Kory, her son, was a senior he was set to receive his State FFA Degree, but was sick. He had a kidney transplant but was not responding. Doctors released him from the hospital to attend State FFA Convention. They understood how important this was to him and his family. When he returned to the hospital the next day, his blood work revealed his count was up three timeshis previous count. Evans, along with the doctors claim that FFA brought him back from that sickness.

She’s seen many young men and women grow and

develop into great leaders, not just her children. She says young people just grasp on to agricultural education and FFA and grow. “If you went through a list of past members, I’d bet you’ll see that the majority of them excelled beyond their years and have excelled because of the organization,” Evans says. She also recognizes the advisors and agriculture teachers that play a large role in the growth and development of these students by stating “Advisors would do almost anything for their students, enabling those young people to excel to their potential.”

Evans has committed to supporting Nebraska FFA through a leadership gift to the Nebraska FFA Foundation because “the number one commodity in Nebraska is our youth. Why would you not invest in their future?”

Teachers Focus on Animals at the 2014 CASE Institute

3

Sixteen teachers and one pre-service teacher attended the 2014 Curriculum in Agricultural Science Education (CASE) Institute. Teachers learned the ins and outs of a curriculum titled Principles of Agricultural Science - Animal, which can be brought back and utilized in their own classrooms.

Learn more about supporting Nebraska FFA through a leadership gift by contacting Stacey Agnew atstacey@neffafoundation.org or 402-472-5846.

Sponsored by:

Save the DateAugust 30, 5:00 p.m.

September 10, 11:00 a.m.

April 8-10, 2015

Nebraska FFA Foundation Ice Cream Social | Nebraska State Fair Hospitality Suite, Grand Island, NENebraska FFA Tire Auction | Husker Harvest Days, Grand Island, NE87th Nebraska FFA State Convention | Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE

4

Titan Tire Corporation, a subsidiary of Titan International, Inc., will be hosting a tire auction for Nebraska FFA at the Husker Harvest Days Show on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. All proceeds from the tire auction will benefit FFA members in Nebraska.

Last year, the first Nebraska FFA auction hosted by Titan Tire made a significant amount of money totaling $45,000. With such a strong turn out their first year, Titan Tire and FFA hope to grow the auction to new heights and keep the enthusiasm mounting.

“We take great pride in supporting the FFA and helping to benefit the next generation of growers,” says Scott Sloan, agricultural product manager at Titan Tire Corporation. “We’ve been doing this very successfully for years at Farm Progress and Sunbelt Ag Expo, and it’s great to see that the event went off without a hitch at our first year doing it in Nebraska.”

• Sign in at the FFA registration desk for a bid number to participate in the auction. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted.

• Starting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 10th, event-goers can place bids on a selection of Titan and Goodyear Farm tires for everything from skid steers and backhoes to implements, tractors and combines. The highest bids win the tires, and all proceeds support Nebraska FFA.

• List of Titan tires that will be auctioned off is below and can also be found at www.neffafoundation.org and www.titan-intl.com/ffa-and-titan.

Questions? Contact Sarah Mullen, Nebraska FFA Foundation Program Manager at 402-472-5224 or sarah@neffafoundation.org.

Titan Tire to Host Tire Auction to Benefit Nebraska FFAEvent scheduled for September 10th at Husker Harvest Days

ATV 2 AT 25x10-12 3* $229.19 ATV 2 AT25X10-12 6 $265.01 ATV 2 AT25X8-12 6 $222.97 I-1 4 9.5L-15SL/16 $452.00 I-1 4 1000-15SL/16 $503.84 I-1 4 11L-15SL/18 $509.85 I-1 4 12.5L-15SL/20 $677.09 F-2M 2 1000-16SL/8 $344.36I-1 4 16.5L-16.1SL/10 $867.55 F-2M 2 11.00-16SL/8 $544.43 SS 4 10-16.5/10 $726.98 SS 4 10-16.5/8 $397.81 SS 4 12-16.5/14 $850.72

SS 4 12-16.5/10 $514.58 SS 4 14-17.5/14 $959.92 R-1 4 12.4-38/6 $1,057.98 R-1 4 13.6-38/6 $1,068.78 R-1 4 15.5-38/8 $1,387.93 R-1 4 18.4-34/8 $1,366.91 R-1 4 18.4-38/8 $1,881.17 R-1 2 30.5L-32/12 $5,153.17 R-1 2 24.5-32/12 $3,136.13 R-1 4 480/80R38-149A8 $2,722.88R-1 4 480/80R42-151A8 $2,656.04R-1 4 480/80R46 158A8 $3,236.16 R-1W 4 520/85R42 157A8 $3,789.21

Type Qty Tire Size List Price Type Qty Tire Size List Price

Nebraska FFA Tire Auction List

Supporters wait for tires to be auctioned off during the 2013 tire auction, which raised over $45,000 for Nebraska FFA members.

Sponsored by:

You don’t have to be a former FFA member to understand the value of agricultural education in Nebraska.

Mat Habrock grew up on a farm in northeast Nebraska with an appreciation for agriculture and a rural way of life passed down from his grandpa. He didn’t attend a high school that offered an FFA or Ag Ed program, but understood the importance of FFA from his dad.

Mat’s wife, Kyla, was a member of the Gothenburg FFA chapter. She says she believes her desire to learn and understand herself and others started during her first year as a member of the Gothenburg FFA. Her advisor always encouraged members and students to try new experiences and he reiterated the importance of the FFA Motto, “Learning to do, Doing to learn, Earning to live, Living to serve.”

Now, Mat and Kyla are both employed in the agriculture industry–Mat at DuPont Pioneer and Kyla at the Nebraska Pork Producers Association–where they have been allowed to grow their involvement and support for Nebraska FFA.

Four years ago, the Habrocks were part of the team starting the Ag Issues Academy. This team created a day-long experience preparing a select group of students to become well-versed advocates on relevant agriculture topics. The students leave the academy armed with new information, experience in

completing an interview on the radio and TV, as well as learning to positively engage and interact online using social media. Students then meet with the representative from their home legislative district and put into practice their newly developed skills.

“It’s been personally rewarding to share our time, talent and financial support for an organization that sparks the interest in agriculture and fuels the development of future leaders in Nebraska,” Kyla says.

“Our excitement and enthusiasm grows in direct proportion to the excitement and enthusiasm by those talented young men and women currently wearing blue corduroy jackets.”

Donor Spotlight: Mat and Kyla Habrock

Give a Student the Gift of Blue CorduroyFFA Jacket Fund Deadline is September 2When many people think of their experience in FFA, the blue corduroy jacket is often the first thing that comes to mind, so why not give that honor to a current FFA member?

The Nebraska FFA Foundation celebrates FFA jackets with the “Blue Jackets, Bright Futures” program each August. Your $80 donation to this fund provides an FFA jacket and tie or scarf to one deserving FFA member. Members must fill out an application, including a statement from their advisor, to be considered for a jacket. They are selected by a committee of supporters, Nebraska FFA Foundation Board Members and other friends of the FFA.

Last year, over 300 students applied for an FFA jacket and only 210 jackets were awarded. The number of jackets given out is directly related to generous donations. The Nebraska FFA Foundation is only able to give out as many jackets as our donors support.

The easiest way to donate is to do so online atwww.neffafoundation.org or return the enclosed donation card to give a deserving FFA member the chance to wear their very own FFA jacket. Donations are accepted until September 2.

5

SS 4 12-16.5/10 $514.58 SS 4 14-17.5/14 $959.92 R-1 4 12.4-38/6 $1,057.98 R-1 4 13.6-38/6 $1,068.78 R-1 4 15.5-38/8 $1,387.93 R-1 4 18.4-34/8 $1,366.91 R-1 4 18.4-38/8 $1,881.17 R-1 2 30.5L-32/12 $5,153.17 R-1 2 24.5-32/12 $3,136.13 R-1 4 480/80R38-149A8 $2,722.88R-1 4 480/80R42-151A8 $2,656.04R-1 4 480/80R46 158A8 $3,236.16 R-1W 4 520/85R42 157A8 $3,789.21

Mat and Kyla Habrock received Honorary State FFA Degrees at the 2013 Nebraska State FFA Convention for their dedication to the Ag Issues Academy.

Sponsor Recognition

Premier Sponsors

6-Star Sponsors

5-Star Sponsors

4-Star Sponsors

The Nebraska FFA Foundation would like to thank corporate sponsors who have partnered to support the mission of the Nebraska FFA Foundation. The companies listed below have partnered with Nebraska FFA and the Nebraska FFA Foundation by donating at least $5,000 during the 2013-14 fiscal year. Thank you for your continued support to programs that develop the agriculture youth of Nebraska.

Nebraska Pork Producers AssociationNebraska Department of AgriculturePlains Equipment GroupBASF The Chemical CompanyReinke Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Nebraska Radio NetworkButler Ag EquipmentCrop Production ServicesDel Peterson and AssociatesHeartland Ag

Helena Chemical Co.John DeereSyngentaThe Andersons

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

MEMBER FDICMEMBER FDIC

CVF Frenchman Valley Coopfvcoop.com Your Premier Service Provider

6

It’s Easy to Find a Reason to Contribute!

Get Connected to the Nebraska FFA Foundation!Helena Chemical Co.John DeereSyngentaThe Andersons

Seth Derner, TreasurerVivayic, Inc.

Craig FrederickSeward Public SchoolRepresents the Nebraska Agricultural Educators Association

Jill GoedekenRepresents the Nebraska FFA Alumni Association

Katie GutzmannHoegemeyer Hybrids

Craig HeadNebraska Farm Bureau

Karl HensleyCentral Valley Ag

Rich HerinkFirst National Bank – Lincoln

Mark HoloubekSeitec Genetics & Farmer

Dann HusmannUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln

Judson JesskeFarm Credit Services of America

Blake JohnsonBunker Hill Farms

Robin Jirovsky, SecretaryNebraska FFA AssociationRepresents the Nebraska FFA Association

Christin Kamm, Vice PresidentNebraska Department of Agriculture

Kent Kirchhoff, PresidentPlains Equipment Group

Matt KreifelsNebraska Department of Education & University of Nebraska–LincolnRepresents the Nebraska FFA Association

Jack NemecRetired

Chuck PohlmanRetired

Justin TroudtOrthman Manufacturing

Tom VolkDEKALB & Asgrow

Stacey Agnew, Executive DirectorNebraska FFA FoundationEx-officio

Sarah Mullen, Program ManagerNebraska FFA FoundationEx-officio

2014 – 2015Board of Directors

7

If you believe in FFA, it’s easy to find a reason to contribute to Nebraska FFA. There are many ways to support the Nebraska FFA Foundation including:

General FundYou can provide support for the Foundation’s year-round efforts to support agricultural education, sustain relationships with current supporters and broaden our base of support among individuals and organizations.

Leadership GiftsYour support in the form of a leadership gift helps the Foundation grow FFA in more communities, get students

connected to the ag industry and supports ag teachers and Nebraska FFA Association staff. Blue & Gold SocietyYou can support Nebraska FFA through a planned gift. These gifts are used to meet various needs at the state and local levels. Supporters who want to make an impact with a planned gift will be recognized as members of the Blue & Gold Society.

For more information on giving to the Nebraska FFA Foundation, contact Stacey Agnew at 402-472-5846 orstacey@neffafoundation.org.

In the first year of the program, Nebraska has been selected to participate in the State Teach Ag Results (STAR) Program, an initiative led by the National Teach Ag Campaign and National Association of Agricultural Educators.

Nebraska will add 8 new FFA chapters for the 2014-15 school year, making it 30 new FFA chapters in the last 5 years! With record highs with 157 Ag Ed programs and 72,000 FFA members, many more schools could have added Ag Ed programs.

As part of the National Council for Agricultural Education, the National Teach Ag campaign has developed a STAR program. This program is designed to identify states with

agriculture teacher shortages and assist these states in addressing the teacher shortage. Each selected state develops a team to work in tandem with National Teach Ag Campaign staff for two years. Thie team will develop a sustainable and effective long-term agriculture teacher recruitment and retention plan.

Nebraska’s team recently met to establish initiatives they will take on in the next two years, everything ranging from recruiting and career fairs, internships, loan programs, mentoring programs and boot camps.

If you’re interested in supporting this initiative, contact Stacey Agnew, Executive Director at 402-472-5224 or stacey@neffafoundation.org.

facebook.com/neffafoundation

twitter.com/neffafoundation

neffafoundation.wordpress.com

neffafoundation.orginformation@neffafoundation.org

Nebraska Selected for STAR Program to Increase Teacher Recruitment & Retention

Ag Teachers celebrated student successes at 2012 State FFA Convention. Bob Pedulla, far right, has since retired

PO Box 94942Lincoln, NE 68509-4942neffafoundation.org

FFA: Impact Beyond Imagination

Titan Tire to Host Tire Auction to Benefit Nebraska FFA

Donor Spotlight: Mat and Kyla Habrock

In This Issue

2 3 7