SEPTEMBER 2020 F11
FARM & RANCH
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
NEC farm receives an upgrade
Vet tech, farm, large animal facilities underway in Norfolk
project. The site is lo- cated near Northeast’s Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex at the intersection of Highway 35 and E. Benjamin Ave. in Norfolk. Dr. Leah Barrett, president, said Northeast embarked on the project five- years ago to ensure the next generation of ru- ral Americans have an opportunity to be ed- ucated and trained in 21st-century facili- ties and on a 500-acre college farm. She de- scribed Nexus as more than just new buildings. “This is an inno- vative collection of facilities that are, in themselves, tools of the trade that will allow our students to learn through experiences as well as theory,” Barrett said. “They will instill a pride among our stu- dents as they prepare to enter the workforce and, for many of them, return to their home- towns and farms to ensure the region has opportunities to be prosperous and grow through either their own operation or by be- ing employed by the myriad of businesses that are vital to the in- dustry.” Nexus began with a vision and a plan that can trace back to the beginning of the ag pro- gram at the College in 1973. Dr. Tracy Kruse, associate vice president of development and external affairs and ex- ecutive director of the Northeast Foundation, said the program has grown from just three
Midwest Messenger
A project that’s been five years in the mak- ing is taking shape at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. Site work began in April on what will eventually be a new veterinary technology building and a combi- nation farm operations building and large ani- mal handling facility at the new Acklie Family College Farm. Although Dara Ness, a sophomore veterinary technology student from Kennebec, South Dakota, won’t take classes in the new facil- ities after she graduates next spring, she said during a groundbreak- ing ceremony Sept. 10, they are one part of ob- taining an education from Northeast. “These past two-years at Northeast have been very impactful on my education as well as my life. It wasn’t the facili- ties that taught me how to be a good vet tech, it was the teachers,” Ness said. “Having in- structors that devote their time and energy to bettering our educa- tion is what pushes us to try harder and think critically. As we move forward, the current vet tech building will al- ways be extraordinary given the history be- hind it — how a once dairy farm was turned into a clinic with the help of devoted teach- ers …” The buildings should be complete by next fall. The Sept. 10 ceremo- ny marked construction that is presently un- derway on the Nexus
Courtesy photo A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Sept. 10 in Norfolk to celebrate construction of new ag- riculture facilities as part of the Nexus project at Northeast Community College.
students 47 years ago to over 350 today. She said Northeast has invested in its current facilities that were constructed over 100-years ago, but it has been no match for time and modern technology and ma- chinery. “Ultimately, the facil- ities were undersized and inadequate for the large numbers of stu- dents and the size of today’s equipment and animals,” Kruse said. As a result of stra- Northeast began to pri- oritize capital funds for the project and invested in new faculty and pro- gramming. Once word was out, many people stepped forward to ask how they could help. This included the Acklie Charitable Foundation (ACF), which provided a $5 million lead gift to the project. ACF was found- ed by the late Duane Acklie and Phyllis Acklie, both Madison tegic planning and visioning in 2015, County natives and graduates of Norfolk Junior College, a pre- decessor institution of Northeast Community College.
Collectively, the school has raised over $10 million and con- tinues to work toward its $22.3 million goal. Donors can text “ag” to 402-383-FARM (3276) to contribute. The school is also selling animal silhouettes to be en- graved and displayed on a farm-scape plaque in one of the new build- ings. Three sizes of horses, chickens, pigs and cattle are available for donations of $50, $100 and $250. These an- imals may be ordered from students or online at agwaternexus.com. Jeanne Reigle of serve as co-chairpeople of the Nexus Campaign. Both stressed the importance of the investment in new facil- ities at Northeast and their impact on train- ing the next generation workforce. “My husband, John, and I have watched Northeast Community College respond to workforce needs over the years and know firsthand the impact of the education and training they provide,” Reigle said. Madison and Russ Vering of Scribner
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