Concordia hosts 7th annual Nebraska Agriculture Summit

On November 19, Concordia University, Nebraska hosted the seventh annual Nebraska Ag Summit. The summit is intended to provide an opportunity for Nebraska high school students to explore the agriculture industry and why it’s important to learn the most up-to-date practices as they prepare for future service in the industry.  

This year’s theme was “Fields of the Future: Discover Your Place in Agriculture.” Students spent the day in interactive sessions led by industry experts. They were taught the latest practices, advancements and technology in animal science, plant science, food science and agribusiness. Students also experienced leadership training activities intended to empower them to develop essential skills and qualities necessary for success personally and professionally. The summit also provided participants with the opportunity to start building a supportive network of peers and professionals.  

 "I think it was really fun to be able to do a hands-on event. The workshops were engaging and interactive workshops rather than just people talking."

Students were able to attend a variety of hands-on workshops throughout the day. Workshops included exploring the power of gluten in food science, seeing precision technology in action, exploring commodity marketing, and improving meat quality through genetic improvements. All the workshop presenters were connections in the Concordia network.  

Over 600 students have attended the Nebraska Ag Summit since its formation. This year, 120 high school students from nine schools attended, including Seward High School, Malcom, David City Aquinas, Heartland in Grand Island, Aurora, York and Crete. 

The summit was met with enthusiasm across the attending student body. 

Kylie Hackbart, a senior from Seward High said, “My favorite part was the food science workshop! I think it was really fun to be able to do a hands-on event. The workshops were engaging and interactive workshops rather than just people talking.” 

Senior Kami Riley from Lincoln Lutheran commented, “I especially liked the hands-on activities during most of the breakout sessions – they made the experience stick better in my memory. From the FieldFarm breakout I learned about the technology used in modern farming to help maximize crop yields. I had no idea the technology was so precise from Pilot Driving to Singulation to Hydraulic Down Force.” 

Additional photos and information from this year’s summit and details for next year can be found here.  

Are you interested in learning more about agricultural science offerings at Concordia Nebraska? Discover more here.