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Professional Development

Agricultural educators know that preparing the next generation for Nebraska’s largest industry is a responsibility that requires them to be at the top of their game. Sharpen your skills as a professional, increase your knowledge of advances in agriculture, and expand your ability to make a difference by participating in professional development opportunities!

PDWs: View Archived Professional Development Webinars

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  • AET Help Videos – AET Help Videos
  • Ag Biotechnology CDE – January, 2023.  Overview of the Ag Biotechnology CDE, with Leah Sandall. Video here.  Resources here.
  • Ag Communication CDE update – Walk through the 2022 Ag Communications State CDE with Dr. Taylor Ruth. View the recording here. Updated video for 2023 NE Ag Comm CDE here.
  • Agriscience CDE update – 2024 CDE overview for the Agriscience CDE, including rules and study resources.  Google slides.  Link to recorded webinar here.
  • Ag Mechanics CDE update – 2022 CDE overview of the Ag Mechanics State CDE. Link to recorded webinar here.
  • Ag Sales CDE – Overview of the 2023 Ag Sales CDE. Watch the recording here. Resources here.
  • Carbon curriculum, presented by Tallgrass Leading Energy Solutions – overview of curricular resources, including Nebraska-specific lesson plans aligned to AFNR standards, National Agriculture in the Classroom lesson plans, and student readers that highlight the advantages and disadvantages of carbon. Recording link hereSlides here.
  • Environmental and Natural Resources CDE – Walk through the CDE itself and review resources for the 2023 State CDE.  Video here.  Power Point here.
  • 2022 State FFA Convention webinar – All your questions answered, as you prepare for the NE State FFA Convention, 2022. Recording link here. Powerpoint with links found here!
  • Farm and Ag Business Management CDE Pilot Team Event – YouTube link (2022) for here.
  • Farm to School webinar – Discover Farm2School opportunities in the classrooms, cafeterias, and communities, including working with tribal partners. Farm2School videoFarm2School slides
  • Food Science CDE update – Updates as you prepare for the 2022 State CDE. YouTube link for Food Science.
  • Greenhouse Spring Planning webinarSpring Greenhouse Prep Webinar – York Middle/High School Ag Ed Instructors Rachelle Staehr and Jason Hirschfeld discuss best practices in spring greenhouse planning. Topics include determining plant needs, ordering plugs, greenhouse maintenance, best practices and tricks of the trade! Greenhouse Spring PlanningGoogle slides
  • Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE – coaching guide geared primarily toward 4-H judges, presented by Briana Buseman (2022). Recording link here.
  • Meat Evaluation and Technology CDE Update – Review the steps in the CDE process as you prepare for the 2022 Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE, presented by Briana Buseman. Recorded webinar link here!
  • Mental Health webinar – Promoting mental health and well-being of students is everyone’s goal in education.  Presented by Cheryl Kreikemeier from ESU 2, learn the basics of how to create a safe and supportive classroom by bringing mental health into the room while fostering social-emotional competencies. Recording link here.
  • Nebraska World Food Prize – Hear from Renee Donner to learn more about two options to participate in the 2023 Nebraska World Food Prize. View the recording here.  Additional information – PowerPoint, information sheet, and resources.
  • Parliamentary ProcedureDr. Daniel Foster’s video session
  • School-Based Enterprises – Instructors David Gibbens (West Holt) and Craig Flaming (Randolph) discuss best practices in School Based Enterprises.  Recording link here.
  • State Convention Best Practices – Join Melissa Bonifas for a “been there, done that” overview as you prepare for the NE State FFA Convention, including communication, student schedules, working with chaperones, managing students and activities during convention, and dealing with the unexpected. Recording here.
  • Teacher Retirement Advice – Review of advise for teachers, to assist in making good decisions for a strong retirement plan (2022). Recording link here.

For more information, please contact Stacie Turnbull.

Professional Development Scholarships, 2024

Scholarships for Professional Development completed during the summer months. Funds can be used to pay for 50% of any PD registration costs OR 50% of equipment costs. Only ONE Foundation will be awarded and are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.  (Online application available

Calendar

Engler Guide Webinar

What if you redesigned your classroom approach so that students took ownership of their learning, they were motivated by failure, and they creatively pursued their purpose in life? When the entrepreneurial mindset is infused into education, all of these things are...

Cultivando Caminos (Cultivating Pathways)

University of NE-Lincoln Lincoln, NE

Cultivando Caminos (Cultivating Pathways) is a one-day conference for underrepresented high school students interested in careers in agriculture, food, water, energy, and natural resources. The conference is designed to encourage students to envision themselves in various agricultural careers and to...

Free

Drone and Urban Ag Workshop

Northeast Community College 801 East Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE

Expand your classroom offerings! Join us on the Northeast Community College campus in Norfolk, NE for three days (May 28th-30th) of workshops focused on drone basics, drone flying, and data analysis. Lesson plan activities for horticulture/urban ag curriculum will also...

Free

Nebraska Career Education (NCE) Conference

Younes Conference Center 416 W. Talmadge Rd, Kearney, NE, United States

The NCE Conference is a professional development learning opportunity featuring national and state CTE leaders. The focus of the conference will be to address current and ongoing themes related to CTE instruction. Sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska...

$300

Fundamentals of Parliamentary Law

Hybrid course

ALEC 893 Short Course in Technical Agriculture: Fundamentals of Parliamentary Law All things Parliamentary procedure directly from Roberts. Because I know how hectic your schedules are in the summer, this will be a hybrid book club of sorts. Materials will...

Introductory Woodworking Workshop

Randolph High School 207 North Pierce Street, Randolph, NE

Over a 3 day period, participants will gain experience in “basic fine woodworking” by participating in classwork and lab instruction covering safe machinery operation, project planning and design, construction, and finishing. Upon completion, participants will have an entire semester worth...

$350

Region III NAAE Conference

Dickinson, ND

Region III NAAE Conference.  Visit the  NAAE Region III website  for the most up-to-date information related to registration, housing reservations, tours, schedule. Region III Update- February 2024  

CASE Institute: Principles of Ag Science – Animal (ASA)

Lakeview High School 3744 83rd Street, Columbus, NE

Engages students in hands-on labs and activities to explore the world of animal agriculture as students develop a comprehensive Producer’s Management Guide for an animal of their choice This professional development cost covers all training materials, supplies used at the...

$3200

CASE Institute: Introduction to Ag, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR)

Lakeview High School 3744 83rd Street, Columbus, NE

Introduces students to a range of agricultural opportunities through investigation, experimentation, problem-solving, and solutions communications to peers and professionals. This professional development cost covers all training materials, supplies used at the institute, lodging, and meals/snacks AND you walk away with...

$3000

Engler Guide Conference

University of NE-Lincoln Lincoln, NE

An educator’s conference focused on teaching with an entrepreneurial mindset, powered by the Engler Entrepreneurship Program. What do entrepreneurship and teaching have in common? More than you think.  Imagine what schools could look like with more teachers thinking like an entrepreneur....

$75

CASE Institute: Ag Equipment Maintenance and Technology (AEMT)

Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture 404 E 7th St, Curtis, Nebraska

This CASE Institute prepares students to enter the ag technician field through hands-on identification and cause and correction of equipment failures in electrical, fluid, diesel, precision, and mechanical systems. This professional development cost covers all training materials, supplies used at...

$3250

NAAE Agriscience Inquiry Institute (AgI2)

Rocky Mountain Ranch Conference Center Allenspark, CO

The NAAE Agriscience Inquiry Institute (NAAE Ag I2) was developed out of the need for more state focused professional development opportunities related to inquiry-based teaching and the enhancement of science in agricultural education. The format and core of the state...

Increasing Ag Productivity through Prototyping Design (CNC Plasma, 3-D Printing, Laser Cutting, and Testing)

Scottsbluff Research Station 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE

ALEC 893 Short Course in Technical Agriculture: Increasing Ag Productivity through Prototyping Design (CNC Plasma, 3-D Printing, Laser Cutting, and Testing) REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/5LrzbdZfzs2h77Vj8 We will focus primarily in 2-D design on plasma and laser printers with the majority of...

$50

Small Gas Engines Fundamentals

Panhandle Research Station 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE

ALEC 893 Short Course in Technical Agriculture: Small Gas Engines Fundamentals --This class will be nearly identical to the Briggs & Stratton Field school courses offered in previous years. Teachers will get the curriculum, but not the textbook, clear carb,...

$30

Automation in the Heartland I–Arduinos

Scottsbluff Research Station 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE

Year one of a two year workshop. We will cover Arduino micro-controllers, basic circuits, basic CAD, the engineering process, and designing with Laser, and 3-D printers for ag applications, and fun physics applications using the Arduino. Teachers will receive a...

Free

Basic Laboratory Safety & Skill Development

Panhandle Research Station 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE

ALEC 893 Short Course in Technical Agriculture: Basic Powertool & Shop Safety This course will focus on all things safety. We will be using the MN CTE Safety curriculum to cover the safe and efficient usage of woods and metal...

$30

Agriscience Metaverse Academy (AMA)

Univeristy of Nebraska - Lincoln

The AMA is a Virtual Reality Training Program to Bring Immersive Agricultural Experiences into the Classroom!  A one-year, USDA NIFA-funded professional development program will help teachers improve their knowledge of virtual reality (VR) technology and Metaverse applications, for educational settings. ...

Ag Electrical Wiring & Plumbing

Panhandle Research Station 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE

ALEC 893 Short Course in Technical Agriculture: Basic Electrical & Plumbing This course will use scale walls to learn about the NEC, residential and farm wiring, and participants will complete 10 labs, keys, and wall plans. Then we will transition...

$30
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