SALINE COUNTY - Farm shows are somewhat standard fare across Nebraska. But for more than 20 years, one such event in the southeast part of the state has served as a bridge between past and present chapters of one school's FFA program.

It started as a way for a group of Wilber-Clatonia alumni to raise money to build a greenhouse at their alma mater.

But now, 23 years later, the Southeast Nebraska Farm Show serves as a perfect bridge, connecting current W-C FFA students to the past, present and future of agribusiness in Southeast Nebraska.

"It’s really important for us to be able to talk to businesses that we could potentially see in our future, just to see where they started so we can get stepping stones for our personal careers," said Kaylie Fritz, a Wilber-Clatonia junior and the FFA's reporter. "So this is a great opportunity for us to gain leadership roles, and also just talk to people and gain those personal connections with them. This is a great way for us to teach and learn from our community, and thank them for all that they do for our FFA chapter, whether it be through the alumni or supporting us in fundraisers. This is a great opportunity for us to thank them and grow connections with them deeper in level."

"I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to be able to walk around and visit with other individuals in the ag industry, and all other types of industries," said Kenni Woerner, an agriculture instructor at SCC-Beatrice and a member of the alumni organizing committee. "Kids are going out there and at 18 years old they have to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their life. And that can be a challenge. I have children at home myself, and they’re still trying to figure out what the heck they want to go out there and do. And so by giving them the opportunity to walk around and visit with individuals who are in an industry that they are passionate about, it gives them a little bit more of an idea of maybe, ‘this is a job that I could see myself doing,’ or at least have somebody to go ahead and fire off some questions to to see if it’s something of interest."

Throughout the day Wednesday, the Saline Center on Highway 15 was filled by around 40 vendors, all representing small-scale ag-related enterprises from in and around Southeast Nebraska. That's a new participation record for this event, which provides a central hub connecting all the entities - all small, local operations, none of the big national chains - with current members of the industry, plus some prospective new members.

"We’ve wanted to serve producers in Southeast Nebraska and have found that this farm show specifically is a great opportunity to get our information out there so that producers can see what technology can do to boost their yields," said Rachel Kreikemeier, a part-owner of Infinity Precision Ag based near Plymouth. "Really just the small-town feel of this event is what’s great. You’ve got producers from all around the area walking in here to see what’s out there, what’s available, who can help them do what they do best, which is feeding America. And we want to be a part of that and help them reach those needs and goals."

Past and present members of the Wilber-Clatonia FFA chapter work in concert to execute this event every year: the alums organize the vendors and acquire the food, while the current students, under the direction of Cara Holtorf, set up the space, and dish up the lunch.

"I really have to give it up for our alumni that make most of this happen. It’s cool to see the traditions and the generations that we can continue this farm show and keep it growing," said Monica Zoubek, a Wilber-Clatonia senior and the FFA chapter president. "Being able to host an event that our alumni put on is huge to us, we know our alumni is always going to be there to support us. Mostly this is a fundraiser for our alumni to help with the scholarships that our FFA chapter applies for at the end of the year. So that’s just huge for us that our alumni do so much for our chapter."

All money raised by the alums goes back to fund scholarships and educational opportunities for the current crop of Wolverines as they consider careers in this diverse field of opportunity.