FFA students gather information on the Ag industry and careers at field day

by By Chabella Guzman | PREEC communications

Identifying common weeds
Nevin Lawrence, Nebraska Extension integrated weed management specialist, left, shows Banner County FFA students Tobey May, Micah Dittbenner, and Brentsen McGowan how to identify common weeds in our backyards. Photo by Chabella Guzman
September 12, 2024

Lincoln, Neb. —FFA youth from around the Panhandle came together on Wednesday, Aug. 28, for the WESTCO-UNL FFA Field Day in Gering and at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff. 

WESTCO started the FFA Field Day three years ago. This year, it grew to include the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff, but the field day has been growing in more ways than one. “It’s been a growing process. The first year was pretty small, we didn’t have as many chapters, and in year two, it just exploded,” said Cole Vejraska, WESTCO Agronomy Sales Manager. In the morning, half of the 250 students were at the Center. 

 “It’s our first time teaming up, and we have a whole bunch of activities here related to different Ag-related management, livestock systems, and water systems. Just giving the kids a chance to do some hands-on activities here and learn about some of these systems,” said Troy White, UNL assistant professor of Practice Ag Leadership Education and Communication.

The center had 11 activity stops where students could learn about plant diseases, 4-H robotics, entomology, range, weeds, and more. Many activity stops had hands-on demonstrations or were built around games. Most stations were indoors, but a few, including the Weed ID Walk led by Nevin Lawrence, Nebraska Extension integrated weed management specialist, were outdoors.