About David
I grew up in Blue Rapids, Kansas, roughly 90 miles straight south of Lincoln. Both sides of my family grew up in farming families in rural Gage and Jefferson Counties, so I had many ties to Nebraska at an early age, and an appreciation for agriculture and rural life. I graduated from Valley Heights High School near Blue Rapids in 1994, and graduated from Kansas State University in 1998, triple majoring in agricultural journalism, horticulture science and animal science. After a year in graduate school on campus in horticulture science, I began my Extension career with K-State Research and Extension as an agriculture agent in Cheyenne County, Kansas. I graduated with my master’s degree in horticulture science in 2005 while working full time as an agent. I transferred to Clay County, Kansas in 2001, and was an agent there until I left in 2008 to complete a master’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Florida.
What is your position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
I am the Horticulture Extension Educator in the Lincoln-Logan-McPherson County Extension Office in North Platte. I serve a 16 county accountability region in west central Nebraska. I teach consumer horticulture programs on vegetable production and resource efficient landscapes maintenance for my region, and statewide team programming. I also oversee the West Central Nebraska Master Gardener program, recruiting and training volunteers to become certified Extension Master Gardeners with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
What drew you to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
I came to Nebraska Extension in 2010, after nine years as an Extension Agent for K-State Research and Extension. Nebraska Extension had a reputation as a solid Extension system that allowed professionals to utilize their graduate degrees and specialize in their respective fields of study. Strong support at the local, state and federal level for Extension in Nebraska was also another reason that drew me to Nebraska Extension.
What aspect of working in an educational setting do you enjoy the most?
Watching people that I teach understand the material that is being covered is very rewarding. Seeing their reactions as they start to make connections between the learning concepts, and how they are going to apply what they learned in their home gardens and landscapes is great to see. I get phone calls or emails after programs or a visit on how someone used a concept that was taught, and that it really helped them and made a difference for them. That is the joy of teaching and helping others in my opinion. I really enjoy my Extension friends across Nebraska, building strong friendships through programming and collaboration. The family-like learning environment that I strive to build with my Master Gardener volunteers is also very rewarding.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement is helping people learn about, enjoy, and respect our Nebraska environment. Helping people of all ages and abilities learn, enjoy, and maintaining productive gardens and sustainable landscapes while being good environmental stewards is one of the most fulfilling parts of my career.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
I am an avid antique tractor collector, focusing on vegetable, orchard and vineyard models from the 1930s. My collection includes models from Minneapolis Moline, Oliver, Case, Allis Chalmers, McCormick Deering and John Deere. I enjoy visiting with collectors from across the United States, England, Australian, New Zealand and Belgium throughout the year. I also enjoy taking my tractors to shows, and riding in tractor drives.
What is your life like outside of work?
My time beyond work is busy with my wife, Amanda, and our son, Andrew. Amanda is a Kindergarten teacher in the North Platte Public School District. Andrew is 9 years old, and is in the third grade. As a family, we are active in the Lincoln County 4-H program, especially in the dog and poultry projects. In our free time, we like to garden, spend time outside, can and freeze garden produce, and take days trips across the state.