Ag Ed & STS Professional Development

Location: Raising Nebraska, Fonner Park, Grand Island
Cost: TBD
Host organization: Nebraska Extension - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Register:  TBD

Description: TBD

Location: Younes Conference Center South, Kearney, NE
Cost: TBA
Host organization: Nebraska Department of Education, Career and Technical Education
Register: TBA
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec TBA, Class TBA (1 hour)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Nathan Conner.  Graduate course expectations: Scholarly report due Monday, August 3, 2026. See syllabus on CANVAS, for assignment details, after registering for the course. 

The Nebraska Career & Technical Education Conference is the premier professional development event for CTE teachers in Nebraska! The focus of the conference will be to address current and ongoing themes in Career & Technical Education and support administrators and teachers throughout the state in learning new pedagogical skills and technical content, while expanding their professional network. NCE conference takes place June 8 - 10, with Ag Ed post-conference sessions on June 11. Additional information at https://nceconference.com/ 

Location: TBA
Cost: TBA
Host organization:  Tom Wheeldon, Craig Frederick and the Center for Rural Affairs
Register: TBA 

Description:  TBA       

Location: Central Community College, Columbus, NE
Cost: None - stipend provided
Host organization: Central Community College
Register:  TBA.  Class size is limited.

Description: The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is partnering with Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska, to offer Professional Development opportunities with high schools and colleges in the summer of 2026. Class size is limited and classes must be taken in sequence. Stipend of $1,800 for your travel costs and time; Concepts of Electronics trainer valued at $5,003.

Location: Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff, NE
Host organization:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ALEC Department
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Troy White.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. Course fees are separate from graduate credit fees.

Description: Year 2 of the Automation workshop for those who completed Y1 last year. Troy White will contact qualified participants directly. This workshop will focus on the operation of CNC using Arduino and teachers will build a 2×2 open source CNC table. Teachers will receive a $600 stipend for attending, a CNC table to take home, and additional training on the Arduino, CAD design, and other cool applications for their Y1 equipment. Travel stipends are available and hotels and food are covered just like last year.

Location: Central Community College, Columbus, NE
Cost: None - stipend provided
Host organization: Central Community College
Register:  TBA. Class size is limited.

Description: The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is partnering with Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska, to offer Professional Development opportunities with high schools and colleges in the summer of 2026. Class size is limited and classes must be taken in sequence. Stipend of $1,800 for your travel costs and time; Intro to Instrumentation trainer valued at $1,300.

Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Cost: $100 (Limited $100 registration scholarship provided for Nebraska teachers by the NE FFA Foundation)
Host organization:  National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE)
Register:  TBA

Description: Join fellow agricultural educators, from Region III, for exciting professional development opportunities, industry tours, and networking.  Registration cost will be provided through a generous donation from the Nebraska FFA Foundation.  lnformation HERE

Location: WCREEC, North Platte, NE
Cost: $20 (includes lunch)
Host organization:  West Central Research, Extension and Education Center
Register: HERE

Description: The VTAPS curriculum provides instruction on crop hybrids, nitrogen use, and irrigation management.  The curriculum provides about 15 lessons for each of these three areas. Participants will play the VTAPS Game Simulation, review each of the hybrid, nitrogen and irrigation curriculums, discuss teaching strategies and decision making for the VTAPS game. The training will provide you with the curriculum and the information to implement it in your classroom. Class meets from 9 am to 3 pm.

Location: UNL East Campus, Lincoln, NE
Cost: Varies (TBA)
Host organization: University of Nebraska Lincoln-CASNR 
Register: HERE  Register for one or multiple days - registration TBA. 
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 890, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours). Must take THREE days of workshops in one topical area to qualify for graduate credit. Instructions on registering. Course contact: Stacie Turnbull.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. Course fees are separate from graduate credit fees.

• AgXplore BriefCASE June 22 - 23, 9 am to 5 pm 
  • Session description:  In AgXplore (AgX), middle school students explore the daily impact of agriculture over roughly 60 days of instruction. The curriculum introduces students to the plants, resources, energy, and animals we use and consume due to agricultural technologies. Additional instruction on Ag in the Classroom resources.
  • Location: Filley Hall 
  • Cost: $600 in-state teachers ($700 out of state) 
• VTAPS June 22, 9 am to 4 pm 
  • Session description: The VTAPS curriculum provides instruction on crop hybrids, nitrogen use, and irrigation management.  The curriculum provides about 15 lessons for each of these three areas. Participants will play the VTAPS Game Simulation, review each of the hybrid, nitrogen and irrigation curriculums, discuss teaching strategies and decision making for the VTAPS game. The training will provide you with the curriculum and the information to implement it in your classroom.  
  • Location: Plant Science Hall
  • Cost: $20 for one day only
• Plant Science, June 22 - 24, 9 am to 4 pm
  • Session description: Plant Science sessions will include VTAPS curriculum (Monday), landscape design (Tuesday), greenhouse management and agricultural biotechnology (Wednesday), and precision agriculture (throughout the week).
  • Location:  Plant Science Hall 
  • Cost: $125 
• Animal Health and Veterinary Science (AHVS) BriefCASE  June 24-26, 9 am to 5 pm 
  • Session description: AHVS is a semester-long program emphasizing inquiry-based learning and technical skill development. This course provides an in-depth examination of veterinary science, focusing on the interplay of factors affecting animal health. Through structured inquiry activities, projects, and problems, students address practical challenges, fostering critical thinking and an understanding of the intricate relationships between animal health and care. Skills in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment techniques are applied through hands-on practice. Students integrate knowledge into case studies, which further develop problem-solving abilities and provide insight into the practical implications of veterinary science across diverse contexts. Additional instruction on outside Animal Science resources.
  • Location: TBA
  • Cost: $600 in-state teachers ($700 out of state) 
• Farm and Agribusiness Training, June 25, 9 am to 3 pm 
  • Session description: Learn how to use the more about the Farm and Agribusiness Curriculum, for secondary agriculture classrooms.  This training will cover the Farm and Agribusiness curriculum, how to use it in the classroom, and the learning outcomes for students for class and the CDE. Once you complete the training, you will have full access to the curriculum and agribusiness resources.
  • Location: Filley Hall
  • Cost: $50   

Location: Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff, NE
Cost: $100 (Includes lunch each day and a 3-box electrical board. If teachers would like to have a scale wall (~2’x3’) to take home, contact Dr. White about the additional cost for the wall) 
Host organization:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ALEC Department
Register: HERE
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Troy White.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. Course fees are separate from graduate credit fees.

Description: This course covers basic AC and DC circuits. Participants will use Snap Circuits, Breadboard circuits, and scale walls to learn AC & DC circuits. AC circuits will include NEC requirements, residential and farm wiring, and participants will complete 10 labs, keys, and wall plans. Then we will transition to a basic plumbing project that uses copper, PVC, Poly, and PEX. Teachers will test connections using pressurized air. Teachers will take home all electricity lab worksheets and the plumbing project plans (and the project if it survives testing). Class will run from 8:00-6:30 each day with a working lunch. If projects are taking longer, additional time will be allocated in the evenings to complete them. Please reach out directly to Dr. Troy White if you have any questions.

Location: Central Community College, Columbus, NE
Cost: None - stipend provided
Host organization: Central Community College
Register: TBA.  Class size is limited.

Description: The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is partnering with Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska, to offer Professional Development opportunities with high schools and colleges in the summer of 2026. Class size is limited and classes must be taken in sequence. Stipend of $1,800 for your travel costs and time; Intro to PLC trainer valued at $1,750.

Location: Haskell Ag Lab, Concord, NE
Cost: $20 (includes lunch)
Host organization:  West Central Research, Extension and Education Center
Register: HERE

Description: The VTAPS curriculum provides instruction on crop hybrids, nitrogen use, and irrigation management.  The curriculum provides about 15 lessons for each of these three areas. Participants will play the VTAPS Game Simulation, review each of the hybrid, nitrogen and irrigation curriculums, discuss teaching strategies and decision making for the VTAPS game. The training will provide you with the curriculum and the information to implement it in your classroom. Class meets from 9 am to 3 pm.

Location: Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff, NE
Cost: $100 (includes lunch each day)
Host organization:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ALEC Department
Register:  HERE
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Troy White.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. Course fees are separate from graduate credit fees.

Description: This class will be nearly identical to the Briggs & Stratton field school with the exception that you will not get their giveaways (textbooks, clear carbs, feeler gages, etc.). Class will run from 8:00-6:30 each day with a working lunch. If projects are taking longer, additional time will be allocated in the evenings to complete them. Please reach out directly to Dr. Troy White if you have any questions.

Location: Central Community College, Columbus, NE
Cost: None - stipend provided
Host organization: Central Community College
Register:  TBA. Class size is limited.

Description: The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is partnering with Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska, to offer Professional Development opportunities with high schools and colleges in the summer of 2026. Class size is limited and classes must be taken in sequence. Stipend of $1,500 for your travel costs and time; Application of Industrial Sensors trainer valued at $1,950.

Location: TBA
Cost: $0 - stipend available 
Host organization:  University of Nebraska Lincoln-CASNR & the Nebraska Soybean Board
Register: TBA (Applications due May 1)
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 890, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course contact: Stacie Turnbull.  Graduate course expectations:  Submit lessons plans developed as a part of the institute to Stacie Turnbull by Monday, August 3, 2026. Course fees are separate from graduate credit fees.

Description: At the Summer Soybean Institute, SSI, you will obtain the tools to help your students become “Soybean Enthusiasts” through the exploration and inquiry of the Nebraska Soybean Story. Enjoy a mix of Content Experts from the University of Nebraska Lincoln-CASNR, the Nebraska Soybean Board, and local teacher leader collaboratives. We will learn together and apply systematic thinking about the phenomenon of Nebraska Soybeans that will lead to a gained understanding of the soybean as a system. Together we will connect your College and Career Ready standards to your classroom by developing units collaboratively with content experts and cross curricular teams that will give you the tools and support to share with your students the vast layers of the Nebraska Soybean Story.  

Location: Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff, NE
Cost: $125 (includes lunch each day of the workshop & one seat license for Lightburn)
Host organization:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ALEC Department
Register: HERE 
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec 295, Class 8280 (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Troy White.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. Course fees are separate from graduate credit fees.

Description: We will focus primarily on 2-D design on plasma and laser printers, with the majority of the time devoted to designing in open-source or reduced-cost programs like Inkscape, LightBurn, SheetCAM, & AutoCAD. 3-D design will focus on Tinkercad and the AutoCAD Suite of software, free (relatively) easy-to-use platforms for teaching and learning the basics of 3-D design with a library of teaching aids, videos, and a free stand-alone LMS. This course is intended for those just starting on or thinking about starting the design journey as well as those looking for a better and easier process for designing projects. Class will run from 8:00-6:30 each day with a working lunch. If projects are taking longer than expected, additional time will be allocated in the evenings to complete them. Please reach out directly to Dr. Troy White if you have any questions.

Location: NCTA Campus, Curtis, NE
Cost: TBA (includes supplies, housing, and all meals during the week)
Host organization:  Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) 
Register: TBA 
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 890 (3 hours).  Instructions on registering. Course contact: Stacie Turnbull.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Friday, August 3, 2026.

Description: TBA 

Location: NCTA Campus, Curtis, NE
Cost: TBA 
Host organization:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ALEC Department
Register: TBA (This course is limited in the number of participants, so sign up early.)
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Stacie Turnbull.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. 

Description: Agricultural educators from Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado will gather for four days of instruction focusing on helping teachers reconnect with their passion with a focus on student engagement/innovative teaching strategies, and leadership within their community and school.  

Location: TBA
Cost: TBA 
Host organization:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ALEC Department
Register: TBA
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 890, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Stacie Turnbull.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. 

Description: Through the three days of this workshop, you will complete multiple projects in small groups.  Leave with one basic project, one intermediate project, and complete plans for four other intermediate projects.

Location: TBA, Lincoln, NE 
Cost: $0 (Stipend available for travel expenses)
Host organization:  Nebraska Department of Education, Career and Technical Education
Register: TBA
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 896, Sec TBA, Class TBA  (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Eric Knoll.  Graduate course requirements: Attend all 32 hours of instruction and complete any in class assignments and readings.

Description: JumpStart is a four-day workshop designed for incoming CTE teachers who are teaching under a Career Education Teaching Permit, or, CTE teachers involved in the Transitional Certification Program through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska-Kearney. This four-day training is designed to help these incoming teachers that have little or no experience in the classroom. This workshop will focus on lesson planning, classroom management, best practices in CTE teaching strategies, advocating for CTE programming, and much more. Eric Knoll, UNL Associate Professor of Practice facilitates the workshop along with the Nebraska Department of Education career field specialists. Upon selection, teachers will receive a contract for a stipend to assist with expenses incurred. No snacks or meals will be provided. Time will be set aside for lunch. Maximum of 30 participants. 

Location: PREEC-Scottsbluff, NE
Cost: $100 (includes lunch each day of the workshop and materials)
Host organization:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ALEC Department
Register: HERE
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Troy White.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026. 

Description: 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 wood and metalworking power tools. Teachers will receive the complete safety manual, the teacher key, and complete a few simple projects to help teach these safety skills. lass will run from 8:00-6:30 each day with a working lunch. If projects are taking longer, additional time will be allocated in the evenings to complete them. Please reach out directly to Dr. Troy White if you have any questions.

Location: West Central Research, Extension and Education Center (WCREEC), North Platte
Cost: TBA
Host organization:  West Central Research, Extension and Education Center 
Register: TBA
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 893, Sec TBA, Class TBA (3 hours)  Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Monty Larsen.  Graduate course expectations found HERE. All assignments are due Monday, August 3, 2026

Description:  This workshop will introduce Range Science as a curricular option and introduce teachers to the Range Judging CDE.

Location: various locations nationwide
Cost: varies
Host organization:  varies
Register: HERE  (Registration closes May 1)
Optional graduate credit available: ALEC 890, 
       - CASE: Animal Science - Sec 301, Class 8341
       - CASE: Ag Equipment Maintenance and Technology - Sec 302, Class 8346
       - CASE: Food Science - Sec 303, Class 8342
       - CASE: Natural Resources and Ecology - Sec 304, Class 8343
       - CASE: Plant Science - Sec 306, Class 8345

Instructions on registering. Course instructor: Monty Larsen.  Graduate course requirements: Email completed CASE Certification certificate to Monty Larsen by Monday, August 3, 2026.

CASE Institutes prepare teachers to implement full-year CASE courses in their classroom. Institutes provide teachers the content and skills needed to use CASE curricula in their classroom. CASE Institutes range from five to eight days in a hybrid, in-person, or virtual format. CASE incorporates science, mathematics, reading, and writing components into the context of agriculture. Students use this course's introductory skills and knowledge throughout the CASE curriculum. More information at Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) Institutes opportunities.