The Launch! program is an opportunity for high school FFA students to come up with creative business ideas and request funding for their entrepreneurship ventures. Over the course of a school year, students present a business plan and how the business would benefit the community. At the 2026 Nebraska State FFA Convention, chapters in the Launch! program gave their final business pitch, which included requests for grant funding to expand the businesses with specific goals in mind.

Founded in 2018, Launch! is a Nebraska FFA Association program, managed by the Engler Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and funded by the Nebraska FFA Foundation. The Launch! program is designed to allow students to gain real-world experience in running an entrepreneurial business, with guidance from their FFA advisors. Through this program, FFA chapters across the state can start their own school-based businesses and potentially fill a demand within their own communities.

This year, students from the Clarkson and East Butler FFA chapters presented ideas around their floral businesses, which included locally sourced flowers and delivery of fresh arrangements within the community and surrounding towns.

The Nebraska Ag Academy FFA chapter is in the process of writing and illustrating children's books to educate the younger generation of students about agriculture. The FFA students are also creating hands-on activity packets to spark excitement about agriculture. The group plans to create online courses for students of all ages to learn more about different areas of agriculture without having to live on a farm or ranch.

Another popular business among various chapters included custom cut metal signs. Students from McCool Junction and Broken Bow both offer customizable pieces that they design using plasma cutting machines. In addition, they also offer laser engraving services for items such as drinkware, wood pieces, and other textiles.

With every student-led business came a backstory about giving back to their FFA chapters and communities. In rural Nebraska, options for products and gifts are sometimes limited. Through these school-based enterprises, customized gifts are easily accessible, while also giving students customer interaction and real-life experiences. 

Below are the grants that were awarded to FFA chapters following final pitch presentations:

• East Butler FFA - $1000 for an updated floral cooler
• Winside FFA - $500 for a flower stand for pop-up shops and a raised planter bed
• Clarkson FFA - $250 for a large stem cutter and industrial shelving to store floral vases
• McCool Junction FFA - $1,500 for a paint booth structure and plasma cutter equipment
• Broken Bow FFA - $1,500 to cover half of the cost of an additional laser engraver
• Nebraska Ag Academy - $1,500 for an illustrator for their children's book about agriculture