Nebraska FFA Foundation

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Kevin Anderson Lyons-Decatur N.E. FFA Advisor Receives Award

Posted by Sarah Mullen on 04/05/2019

(LINCOLN) – The Nebraska FFA Foundation presented Mr. Kevin Anderson, Lyons-Decatur N.E. FFA advisor, with the 2019 Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award at the Nebraska FFA Convention on Thursday, April 4.

Anderson, FFA advisor for the Lyons-Decatur N.E. FFA chapter, was nominated for the award with support by colleagues and community members. Kylie Penke, whom nominated Anderson shared that “Kevin gravitates toward leadership roles…He has been a teacher for twenty years and served as president of the Elim Church Council and Lyons Community Foundation. He has raised his children to be active in 4-H and FFA, and has lead their 4-H clubs. In all of the organizations mentioned, Kevin has been active in selecting and distributing college scholarships to youth all over the country!”

Other nominations also shared stories of the commitment Anderson has to helping other agriculture teachers and their students be successful. Jill Hensley Arlington Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor says, “Kevin spent an entire evening in late January with myself and two of my students working through their record books and helping us understand how to fill out the Sate Degree Application…Kevin Anderson is a true mentor.”

The Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award recognizes a Nebraska agriculture teacher or FFA advisor for what he or she has done in helping others, specifically in the school and community outside of agriculture education and FFA. Anderson was announced as the award winner during the Nebraska FFA State Convention in Lincoln. He received a plaque and $500 cash award from the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

“The Foundation Board is honored to present this award to Mr. Anderson today. He exemplifies many qualities that defined Gary Scharf’s life – commitment, self-sacrifice and genuine kindness,” says Stacey Agnew, Executive Director, Nebraska FFA Foundation.

The annual award is named for Gary Scharf, who was a victim of an Omaha mall shooting in December 2007. Scharf grew up on a family farm outside of Curtis, Nebraska and worked in the agricultural chemical industry. He made a significant contribution to Nebraska’s agricultural and FFA community through his years of service on the Nebraska FFA Foundation Board, including a year as Board President in 2002-2003.