Concordia Nebraska agriculture program plans launch of Agriculture Academy

On Thursday, February 27, the Uzziah Ag Scholars hosted a luncheon in the Borland Family Collaboration Center with the purpose of launching their Agriculture Academy this upcoming fall. 

There was a welcome by Provost Dr. Tim Preuss and a presentation by Kellie Nelson and Dr. Kimberly Clark. Following lunch there was time dedicated to discussion among the attendees about the enhancement of the Agriculture Academy.

The Agriculture Academy will provide Uzziah Ag Scholars and students at Concordia with the opportunity to experience production agriculture alongside local leaders in agriculture. This will help them to jumpstart their network and gain hands-on experience. This program will have students spend one year working with an agricultural professional and their network alongside their undergraduate coursework at Concordia. They will be involved in the operation or business and will assist in making business, management and financial decisions. 

This luncheon allowed Concordia faculty and staff to receive feedback from key stakeholders and agricultural leaders to further plan the academy and put it into action. They also had the opportunity to discuss the current program and identify ways to adjust it to better prepare students for real-world challenges.

Around 30 people attended this luncheon, made up of Concordia leadership, faculty and staff as well as FSA program technicians, cooperatives, commodity board representatives, insurance agents, bankers, loan officers, extension agents, agronomists, producers and seed dealers.

Concordia University, Nebraska is dedicated to increasing the number of future stewards who will care for God’s earth and serve as leaders in agriculture for the sake of others. Uzziah Scholars are challenged to solve real-world challenges, explore the many facets of agriculture in depth and be a part of creating sustainable, long-lasting and ethically sound agriculture practices for the future.