Nebraska Career and Technical Education Conference 2026: Full Schedule

1:00pm CDT

Leveraging FFA Supporters and Ag Education Advisory Committees for Program Success

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Strong community partnerships are essential to building and sustaining high-quality agricultural education programs. This session is designed for high school agriculture teachers who want to better utilize FFA Supporters and Agriculture Education Advisory Committees to strengthen their programs.

Explore the roles and purposes of each group, how they complement one another, common frustration points, practical strategies for recruiting members, organizing meetings, and maximizing their impact, and best practices when working with both groups. The session will highlight real-world examples of how these groups can support student learning, FFA activities, facilities, fundraising, advocacy, and long-term program planning. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas, tools, and best practices to effectively engage stakeholders and build sustainable support networks for their agricultural education programs.

Speakers

Monty Larsen

ALEC Teacher Prep Team and Lecturer, UNL ALEC Department

Monty Larsen is a Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he serves on the ALEC Teacher Preparation Team, providing outreach and support to agricultural and skilled technical science educators... Read More →

Stacie Turnbull

Lecturer, ALEC Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

2:00pm CDT

Implementing the National Program Standards for Agricultural Education

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

The National Program Standards for Agricultural Education, developed by the Council for Agricultural Education, provide a framework for delivering high-quality, comprehensive agricultural education programs. This session introduces participants to the purpose and structure of the standards and demonstrates how they can be used as a practical tool for program improvement. Participants will explore how the standards support alignment among classroom instruction, FFA, and Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), while strengthening program accountability and student outcomes.

Speakers

Stacie Turnbull

Lecturer, ALEC Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

3:00pm CDT

Sniff, Sip, and Science: Hands-On Food Science for the Classroom

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

This session introduces middle and high school teachers to engaging ways to teach science concepts using food and the human senses. Participants will experience hands-on activities using sensory analysis – especially smell and taste –and simple food-based investigations that model real-world scientific thinking to explore food properties. By the end of the session, teachers will be able to implement sensory activities that encourage student questioning, evidence-based reasoning, and data interpretation, while increasing student engagement and curiosity about food science and related careers.

Speakers

Andreia Bianchini

Professor, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Dr. Andreia Bianchini has a solid record of achievement in promoting STEM education. In the last three years, in partnership with other faculty in the Food Science and Technology department at UNL she has collaborated on the creation of more than 20 different STEM-based, food science... Read More →

Jayne Stratton

Research Professor, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Dr. Stratton has collaborated with Dr. Bianchini on the creation and delivery of food science-based STEM activities for students in K-12.

Silvana Martini

Department Head - Food Science and Technology, UNL, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Department Head - Food Science and Technology

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources Human Sciences & Education

8:30am CDT

Troubleshooting SAE Success: A Practical Workshop for Ag Educators

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

A workshop for Ag Ed teachers to address challenges with SAE applications, including proficiency categories, Star batteries, financial documentation, journaling, and application pitfalls.

Speakers

Monty Larsen

ALEC Teacher Prep Team and Lecturer, UNL ALEC Department

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

9:30am CDT

Nebraska Agriculture Education Association (NAEA) Business Session 1

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

NAEA Business Session 1

Speakers

Dana Hall

Agriculture Educator, McCool Junction

Dana Hall teaches Agricultural Education at McCool Junction. She is currently the NAEA President.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

10:30am CDT

Get Your Hands Dirty! Nebraska Land Judging

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

Attendees of this workshop will be able to work with known soil textures to help calibrate ability to determine soil textures and permeability. Teaching tricks to help students to learn the importance of texturing soils will be shared as well.

Speakers

Joel Miller

SLJ Committee Chair, Hampton Public, ESU 9, State Land Judging Committee

Ag Education Instructor at Hampton Public SchoolsNebraska State FFA Land Judging Coordinator

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

1:00pm CDT

Ideas Unlimited

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

Selected Ag teachers will compete to be the best. Up to 6 teachers will be selected to present something as a best practice from their program (could be curriculum, FFA, or SAE related) to share with the attending teachers. Time will be allotted to ask presenters questions about their ideas.

Speakers

Stephanie Miller

Agriculture Teacher, Heartland Community Schools

Agriculture teacher and Awards Committee Chair

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

3:00pm CDT

A Guide for Advisory Committees

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

Strong advisory committees can be a useful resource for agricultural education programs, but many lack clear direction or purpose. This session introduces a guidebook designed to help Ag Ed teachers clarify advisory committee roles, utilize committee members effectively, and sustain committees during teacher transitions. Participants will gain practical insights and tools they can apply to strengthen or build their own advisory committees.

Speakers

Christy Schuler

Ag Teacher & FFA Advisor, Bridgeport High School

Christy is the Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor at Bridgeport High School. She serves as the District 12 FFA Board Representative. Outside of school, she works on her family's Red Angus seedstock ranch.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

7:30am CDT

Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska (ACTEN) Assembly of Delegates

Wednesday June 10, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

By invitation only.

Wednesday June 10, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Cross Career Field Administrators Agriculture Food & Natural Resources Business Marketing & Management Communication & Information Systems Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education School Counselors Skilled & Technical Sciences WBL Coordinators

10:00am CDT

Nebraska Agriculture Education Association (NAEA) Business Session 2

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

NAEA Business Session 2

Speakers

Dana Hall

Agriculture Educator, McCool Junction

Dana Hall teaches Agricultural Education at McCool Junction. She is currently the NAEA President.

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

11:00am CDT

From Learning to Earning: Using FFA Alumni & Supporters to Strengthen Student Success

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

This session will explore practical, proven ways FFA Advisors can engage their local FFA Alumni & Supporters chapters to enhance student learning, leadership development, and career readiness. Participants will discover how alumni and community supporters can serve as a vital bridge between classroom learning and real-world earning opportunities through mentorship, career exploration, fundraising support, advocacy, and hands-on experiences. Whether an advisor has an active alumni chapter or is just getting started, this session will provide ideas to strengthen collaboration and impact.

Speakers

Jill Goedeken

Council Member, Nebraska FFA Alumni and Supporters

Jill Goedeken is a member of the Nebraska FFA Alumni and Supporters Council and has recently been appointed to the National FFA Alumni and Supporters Advisory Committee. She and her fellow NE FFA Alumni and Supporters Council members will present ideas to engage your FFA Alumni and... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources

2:00pm CDT

Chapter Management through AET

Wednesday June 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

Discover how AET can simplify and strengthen the management of your FFA chapter. In this workshop, you’ll explore the full range of AET tools designed to save time and improve organization, from participation records that automatically connect to student journal entries, to the chapter meeting manager, budgeting tools, and chapter-wide goal setting. Whether you’re streamlining records or planning for the year ahead, you’ll leave with practical strategies you can use right away.

Speakers