Twenty-four Nebraska FFA chapters or FFA members were awarded funds through the Nebraska FFA Foundation grant program with nearly $80,000 awarded in total in grant funding.

This grant program, in its fifth year, supports Nebraska agricultural education classrooms, FFA programs and individual student entrepreneurship Supervised Agricultural Experiences. Each year, funds are provided by the Nebraska FFA Foundation and its general fund donors. Many other generous supporters partnered this year and are listed below.

“Our board worked many years to develop sustainable funding to provide this program. The Board knew there were many programs in need of financial support to develop career-ready students in agriculture, and awarding nearly $80,000 will give students in these schools some of the resources necessary to reach their full potential,” said Stacey Agnew, Nebraska FFA Foundation Executive Director.

Many of these grant recipients will be showcased on the Nebraska FFA Foundation website and social media throughout the next couple years. Applications for the 2022 Nebraska FFA Foundation Grant Program will open in April.

Nebraska FFA Foundation Grant Recipients:

FFA Chapters and agricultural education classrooms:

• Aurora Agricultural Department Animal Lab 
• Hampton Animal Lab aka the Hawk Herd Expansion 
• Pleasanton Agriculture Program New Curriculum 
• Stanton CDE Preparation 
• Valentine Food Science Lab 
• Sidney Greenhouse 
• Boyd County Classroom Aquaponics System 
• Madison Dragonfire Popcorn and Pumpkins 
• Falls City Ironworker 
• Johnson County Central Welding Updates 
• McCool Junction Cutting Solutions Spitfire 
• Norris Turning Up the Small Engine Curriculum 
• Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Power and Structural Tech Class

FFA members:

• Ellie Wanek, Aurora FFA Member, Ellie’s Llamas 
• Jacob Wood, Palmyra FFA Member, Wood Farm’s Cow/Calf Operation 
• Caraline Higgins, Crete FFA Member, Beekeeping 
• Elizabeth Luther, Nebraska City FFA Member, Rock Creek Honey 
• Haily Scaaf, Chambers FFA Member, Village Green Hand 
• Samuel Russell, Southern Valley FFA Member, Pumpkin Corners Pumpkin Patch 
• Jayna Guggenmos, Wheeler Central FFA Member, Chinchilla Production-Specialty Animal 
• Jack Kreifels, Syracuse FFA Member, Sweet Corn  Production and Sales 
• Caleb Heck, Gordon-Rushville FFA Member, Trailer for Mowing Business 
• Bailey Hall, McCool Junction FFA Member, Blue River Corgis 
• Rylee and Peyton Hofmann, High Plains FFA Members, Genetic Improvement of Goat Herd 

Badertscher Endowment Grant:

• Trevor Johnson, Tractor Restoration Entrepreneurship, Tri County FFA

Cooperative Producers, Inc. Grant:

• Thayer Central FFA Animal Lab
• Deshler Greenhouse
• Minden FFA Chapter Garden
• Franklin Welding Ventilation Replacement
• McCool Junction Lone Star Cutting Solutions Spitfire

Central Valley Ag Grant:

• High Plains Livestock Learning Lab - Livestock Trailer Purchase
• Bloomfield Greenhouse
• Valentine Food Science Lab

Union Bank and Trust Grant:

• Palmer FFA Livestock Project
• Norfolk Catch It System
• The Career Academy (Lincoln) Let it Grow - Greenhouse Vegetable Production

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska Grant:

• Pender Modernization of Greenhouse Lighting with Smart and LED Technology
• Osceola School Farm

Farmers Cooperative Grant:

• McCool Junction Lone Star Cutting Solutions Spitfire

Constellation Energy Grant:

• Caleb Heck, Gordon-Rushville FFA Member, Trailer for Mowing Business
• Isabella Klein, Cozad FFA Member, Bella Klein Enterprises
• Samuel Russell, Southern Valley FFA Member, Pumpkin Corners Pumpkin Patch
• Caraline Higgins, Crete FFA Member, Beekeeping
• Rachel Kuss, Seward FFA Member, Homemade Desserts and Desserts in a Jar
• Franklin Welding Ventillation Replacement
• Hampton Animal Lab aka the "Hawk Herd" Expansion
• McCool Junction Lone Star Cutting Solutions Spitfire
• Sumner Eddyville Miller Power and Structural Tech Class
• Palmer FFA Livestock Project

Frontier Cooperative Grant:

• Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Teaching Aids for Small Animal Care and Animal Science
• High Plains Livestock Trailer
• East Butler Floral Cooler
• Norris Metal Bender
• The Career Academy (Lincoln) Edible Landscapes
• North Bend Homegrown Potting Shed
• Humphrey Growing Agriculture Literacy
• Palmer FFA Livestock Project