FIELD (Fellows in Education and Leadership Development) experience, coordinated by the NAEA (Nebraska Agricultural Educators Association) and funded by the Nebraska FFA Foundation, is an opportunity for Nebraska agricultural educators to continue their personal growth and professional development. By agricultural educators sharing how they teach with fellow educators, it serves as a learning experience for them to take back ideas to their own schools and chapters.
Several ag educators participated in the 2025-26 FIELD Program, and we want to share what they learned!
Stapleton ag teacher and FFA advisor Daise Nichols had the opportunity to observe Brandon Jacobitz from Adams Central. In Nichols’ words, she was excited for the opportunity to learn from a veteran teacher who balances a strong curriculum with competitive success in FFA.
“I am so glad I chose to observe Brandon,” said Nichols. “He incorporates several hands-on activities throughout the units and has a really diverse curriculum that he has created to reach all types of learning styles.”
Nichols saw how Jacobitz implemented bellringers and exit tickets, which are short, daily classroom activities to start and end class and provide instant feedback. She also gained a new perspective on student evaluations to learn where they are at in retention of material without the “high stress” of a typical assessment.
The second ag educator’s FIELD experience comes from Holdrege FFA Advisor Jeff Moore, who completed his experience by visiting Colin Kubik from Norris High School. Moore’s goal was to get a better understanding of Kubik's small engine and welding programs. After observing both, Moore gained ideas to consider splitting his small engine and welding courses into two separate semesters, which would allow his welding course to become a full semester, offering more opportunities to expand welding skills, basic project construction, and increased used of their plasma CAD machine. In addition, Kubik recently began offering an AEMT CASE course, which Moore got to see in its first stages before Kubik expands for the future.
“I saw a variety of classes in action and was able to talk with Colin about what he does and gain ideas for shop equipment, as well as share with him the equipment that I have that could help at Norris,” Moore said. Collaboration at its finest!
Toni Rasmussen from the Wayne FFA Chapter completed not one but two FIELD experience trips. She visited David Gibbens and Katie Lewin from West Holt FFA and Bailee Dougherty from O’Neill FFA. Rasmussen wanted to go to both schools to explore how they recruit students into their ag programs. She noticed that neither chapter is doing anything specific to recruit students, but rather focusing on interests that keep students engaged in agriculture.
Both programs have greenhouses, which caught Rasmussen’s attention, and is a feature she would like to add to her program at Wayne. She also learned how the other teachers “nudge” students to get involved, which gave her ideas of how to better engage with younger students to get them more interested in attending FFA events earlier.
Another FIELD experience was shared by Abby Hitchler from the Boone Central FFA Chapter, who visited Rasmussen in Wayne. According to Hitchler, she was extremely impressed with Rasmussen’s use of classroom space, primarily the lab tables, desks, and use of storage. She noticed Rasmussen’s structure of teaching was similar to her own, both beginning the day with a slideshow outlining the agenda, so students know what to expect.
“Toni is very organized in terms of her lessons and planning which is something that I wish I was better at doing,” admits Hitchler. “But I was able to get some ideas from her.”
McCool Junction advisor Dana Hall was also able to visit Gibbens and Lewin from West Holt FFA.
est Holt because of its strong reputation in agricultural education and FFA, as well as my interest in learning more about how their school-based enterprises create hands-on learning opportunities for students while serving the local community,” said Hall.
She was able to observe several classes ranging from ag mechanics to agribusiness, along with touring the AgEd and Skilled & Technical Sciences facilities.
“One of the most valuable parts of the experience was learning more about how they manage their work-based learning program, including orders, inventory, student hours, and finances,” Hall said. “It was incredibly helpful to see another successful program in action and gather ideas and resources that I can bring back to my own classroom and students.”
This experience helped remind Hall that students are students no matter where you go. Every school has exceptional young people, as well as students who need extra patience, encouragement, and support. This was refreshing and encouraging to Hall as an educator.
The last FIELD experience comes from Elm Creek ag teacher and FFA advisor Danie Brandl, who visited Jeff Moore from the Holdrege FFA Chapter. Brandl visited a handful of Moore’s classes including an SAE class, nursery and landscape, metal fabrication, intro to Ag, and vet science. Throughout the day, Brandl was able to ask questions regarding Moore’s curriculum, FFA chapter information, and how he manages his classroom in general.
“Holdrege is a larger school than I teach in. By going to a larger school, I was able to see agriculture and FFA from a different perspective,” said Brandl.
Learning never stops. Whether a first-year educator or a life-long teacher, there is always room to learn and grow. Being able to bounce ideas off one another creates unlimited learning. That’s the idea of the FIELD Program: Supporting our educators' continued learning, so that they can teach our future leaders.
