University of Nebraska
Officers were excited for another year when the 1996-97 school year began.
Advisors for the year were Dr. Kathy Anderson, Dr. Steve Jones, and Dr.
Daniel Pomp. The Fall 1996 and Spring 1997 officer teams got the opportunity to
work with this outstanding advisor team.
Fall 1996 Office Spring 1997
Deb Roeber, Ashland President Bill Ference, Loup City
Bill Ference, Loup City Vice President Troy Anderson, Guide Rock
Mike Newtson, Ravenna Secretary Rick Kusek, Loup City
Judi Woitalewicz, Loup City Treasurer Tricia Grabenstein
Kris Leska, Sargent Marshall Kris Leska, Sargent
Dan Botsch, Malcolm Asst. Marshall Dan Botsch, Malcolm
Doyle Leefers, Unadilla Historian Doyle Leefers, Unadilla
Jeff Neumeister, Weeping Water Asst. Historian Jeff Neumeister, Weeping wtr.
Sonya Plueger, Concord Program Chair Sonja Plueger, Concord
Amy Olsan, Gretna Ambassador Amy Olsan, Gretna
Todd Grabenstein, Eustis Ambassador Todd Grabenstein, Eustis
Officers gathered the Friday before classes to prepare for an exciting
semester. Everything started with a bang on the first Wednesday of classes with
the first meeting. This followed by the Animal Science Department's Welcome
Back pizza feed. Only two weeks after class began, members organized to judge
Herdsman ship during State Fair and helped to sponsor Prairie Stomp, a dance to
welcome students back for another year.
October brought Little AK-SAR-Ben, Balloon Sales and Fall Kid's Day.
Little AK-SAR-Ben, a showmanship contest including five species, Balloon sales
at one of the famous Nebraska football games and the always interesting Fall
Kid's Day which brought numerous elementary age school kids to a "barnyard"
type setting where they had a chance to see animals that they had probably never
seen before.
The Fall semester also brought such activities such as Little MA EC-Market
and Breeding which had one hundred fifty six contestants judging six live placing
classes; Christmas Lunch, for staff and to recognize the winners of the Little MA
EC; election of officers; initiation of thirty member; and the National Meeting at
Orlando, Florida which Nebraska took three members. The highlight of this
convention for the Nebraska group was the Awards Banquet, were the 1995-96
Annual received forth place, along with the opportunity to have the fifth place
Junior Scholarship Award Winner- Judi WOITALEWICZ and the first place
Outstanding Senior- Deb Roeber.
Spring semester started out well with three new initiates and people
rearing to get started with the activities that they were in charge of . In March we
hosted the Springs Kid's Day, where it is always bigger and better than in the Fall
with the "baby animals" along with the Big Red Beef Show and Symposium
which was held in Columbus this year.
April seemed to be the busiest for us this year with the Little MA EC -
Meats, State Ag Ed, AQHA Horse Show and the Honors Banquet. Little MA EC-
Meats judged carcasses, retail cuts, and a quality and yield grade rail. State Age
Ed Contests kept everyone busy with trying to get through all the livestock
judging contest and to have it tabulated by six o'clock that same night. The
AQHA Horse Show and Team Penning also saw plenty of success with plenty of
entries and exhibitors. The Honors Banquet ended the year with club and
departmental wards along with the presentation of this year's annual. The Block
and Bridle Honoree for 1997 was Richard Shinn, a highly distinguished turkey
producers from Dunning, Nebraska.
