The West Central Research, Extension and Education Center and the University of Nebraska Foundation welcomed trustees, stakeholders and students from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture to foster more understanding of the opportunities and experiences of students at each institution.
Each college continues to expand opportunities available to students that provide hands-on experiences and connections to prepare them for their future careers in agriculture.
Students in attendance represented the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program, Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program and NCTA to showcase a few of the many areas that are developing and preparing students for their future.
The Elite 11 Program supports the development of new veterinarians in production animal practices in rural Nebraska and the Engler Program provides students with the tools to build their own enterprises from the ground up. NCTA continues to provide hands-on learning experiences for all students, giving them the tools they need to succeed in the agriculture industry.
Sharing their path to each program and their experiences, the students helped trustees learn more about what the university and NCTA are providing them with today.
"Having students from the area who are in programs or the technical college like Elite 11, Engler or NCTA, shows the breadth of the education that is happening within IANR and also shows the resources that are in their backyard here in western Nebraska,” said Kristen Houska, director of development for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska Foundation.
An initial tour of the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in the fall showed local trustees how the university was impacting their communities with research, extension and education outreach. Following the tour, the trustees wanted to learn more and allow others to do the same.
The March event began with an optional tour of the West Central research facilities and was followed by roundtable discussions between the trustees, stakeholders and students.
"Having the opportunity to connect with these supporters shows them that they are not just a number to us,” said Hayden Jennings, UNL ag business major and Mullen, Nebraska, native. “We truly do value everything that they have done to get us where we are in the university.”
Conversations between trustees and students created connections that can be leveraged as students continue their academic careers and trustees continue to strengthen support for higher education in Nebraska.
