The Nebraska Cooperative Council for the heads-up attitudes of its members on education. Recently, when Dr. Mike Turner retired from his position with the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service, it looked like the office would be terminated due to lack of funds. Turner had devoted considerable time working with the council to help facilitate training programs for local co-op directors and managers, and was considered critical to the training agenda. Members of the council stepped up to the plate to raise more than $500,000 to endow the position and allow hiring a replacement. “In these fast-changing and challenging times, it's very important for us to sustain a close relationship with the university,” says council education and program director Ed Woeppell. Since 1961, the Council has provided training programs for more than 50,000 co-op directors and personnel.

Agriliance, Land O'Lakes, Farmland Feed and Croplan Genetics for the fifty $1,000 scholarships awarded to high school students through their “Careers in Agriculture” program. The awards are based on leadership activities and students' long-term goals, says Annette Degnan, scholarship committee chairperson. “The increasing need for specialization in agriculture makes a variety of agriculture career options possible. Our goal is to encourage more young people to pursue those careers,” she says.

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