Haskell ag lab cultivates future farmers with hands-on experience

CONCORDIA, Neb. – The Haskell Ag Lab in Concordia is taking agricultural education to the next level, offering students hands-on experiences to prepare them for future careers. Building on two years of prepping students for agricultural careers, the lab has expanded its resources to include a variety of immersive activities.

In 2024, Haskell Ag Lab broadened its events to encompass meats, environmental studies, and natural resources. According to University of Nebraska Outstate Faculty member Monty Larsen, this year's additions include forestry, meats, agronomy, meat evaluation, and technology.

Haskell Ag Lab office associate Agnes Kurtzhals emphasized the importance of hands-on learning, stating, "We are trying to get them hands-on with some of the things that maybe they're only seeing in pictures in the classroom."

To earn scores, participants engage in individual tests, identification challenges, and group sections where teammates collaborate to identify four career development categories using a series of items. In agronomy, students identify plants, crops, insects, and machinery. Forestry involves identifying seeds, trees, and harmful insects. Meats requires identifying different cuts of beef, pork, and lamb, focusing on the animal's origin, meat grading, and ranking.

Once the day concludes, and final grades are tallied, an award is presented to the top team at the state show. Kurtzhals noted that both top teams and top individuals in each competition receive awards, fostering both team and individual competition.

While awards and plaques may fade, Larsen emphasized the lasting impact of the experience. He added, "Ultimately, these careers aren’t all sows, cows, and plows, but you'll be learning some real career skills. Whether it's identification and problem-solving, I think those are some of the key skills, and this is an opportunity for them to find a career in northeast Nebraska or where they are in the state."