Making the Connection Conference
Farmers, ranchers, educators, and agribusiness professionals are encouraged to attend this one-day conference to gain tools and knowledge to help students and consumers understand how agriculture impacts their everyday life.
SAVE THE DATE
Monday, June 9, 2025
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Younes Conference Center North
707 Talmadge Street, Kearney, NE
No Cost to Attend
Inspiring Keynote Speaker
Empowering Breakout Workshops
Nebraska Grown Gallery Walk
2025 Schedule at a Glance
| 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast Buffet |
| 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome |
| 9:20 – 9:50 a.m. | Networking Bingo |
| 10:00– 10:50 a.m. | Workshops A |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Keynote – Overcoming Adversity, Adam Carriker |
| 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Nebraska Grown Gallery Walk |
| 1:40 – 2:30 p.m. | Workshops B |
| 2:40 – 3:30 p.m. | Workshops C |
| 3:40 – 4:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks & Prize Drawings |
Welcome
Presenting Sponsor Buffalo County Farm Bureau President Brock Elsen and Nebraska Pork Producers will give opening remarks.
Keynote Speaker
Adam Carriker
Adam Carriker was born in Hastings, Nebraska, to Dave and Nancy Carriker. Dave, an avid Husker fan, was born and raised on a family farm in the small town of Giltner, Nebraska. Despite moving halfway across the country at a young age because of his parents’ jobs, Adam grew up with strong country values and a lifelong dream of playing for Nebraska. And one day, wearing a Blackshirt. The story of his career was in serious doubt, however, considering he wasn’t allowed to play football for much of his young life. He was also more skilled at baseball and when he finally did join the gridiron, he only played defense for one season on a high school football team that hadn’t won a game in nearly two years.
Adam’s dream of playing for the Huskers came to fruition, where he was twice named first-team All-Big 12, leading the conference in sacks and winning the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year award his senior season, along with several other awards including finishing with All-America hon-ors, in addition to being named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll three times. He’s also been named to Nebraska’s All-Century Team, voted The Best Husker Defensive End since the start of the new millennium, and has been inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Adam went on to play eight years as a Defensive Lineman in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins. He was drafted in the 1st round, winning Rookie of the Year and he’s the only Ram in franchise history to start all 16 games as a rookie. He also won the Strongest Redskin award multiple times during his career in the NFL.
Since retiring, he’s experienced great success in the business world and has also appeared multiple times on National Television and Radio Shows, and currently hosts his highly popular show, the Carriker Chronicles, aka, the People’s Show, which has been viewed by millions!
Adam will, however, tell you that his greatest and most precious accomplishment is his beloved family. He married his college sweetheart, Angela, in 2006, and they have six beautiful children, as well as two wonderful dogs. In addition to the admiration for his beautiful family, he loves to share the story of how his unlikely college and NFL career came to be, as well as speaking on topics such as overcoming adversity, bullying, and success in the workplace, as well as in life.
Lunch Speaker
Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones is a high school science teacher from Ogallala, NE. A former Wyoming native, she married a Nebraska farmer and now passionately champions agricultural literacy and the use of agriculture phenomena to teach science. She’s the Past President of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) and the 2023 Nebraska Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. Inspired by her participation in the Nourish the Future program, Jennifer is dedicated to making agricultural science accessible to all teachers and students through general science classrooms.
With generous support from the Nebraska Corn Board, Jennifer has partnered with Vivayic to create the Nebraska Agriculture and Science Education Leadership Institute (NASELI). NASELI aims to integrate agriculture-based phenomena into middle and high school science by addressing the ease of accessibility of ag-based educational content. We’ll empower teachers through experiential professional development across Nebraska, helping them find and align existing ag lessons with state science standards. These resources will be compiled into an easy-to-use repository, making agricultural science readily available and simple to incorporate into any Nebraska science classroom
Nebraska Grown Gallery Walk
Explore Nebraska’s agricultural roots, connecting with Nebraska’s leading agriculture products in this interactive walk-through experience.
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
Beyond the Coop
Room: Silver 9
Panel
Brett Kreifels
Associate Extension Educator, University of Nebraska
Brett Kreifels is an Extension Educator for Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties in Omaha. His role is to manage a robust 4-H program reaching over 20,000 youth annually through in-school and out-of-school agriculture and STEM programming. Brett also serves as an Extension Educator that focuses on Poultry Extension work by providing clients with needed information to manage their flocks.
panel
Shelby Snidarich
Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, Education Specialist – Omaha
Shelby Snidarich joined the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation in January 2024. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University with an Equine Certification.
Shelby is based in the Omaha area and specializes in developing efforts related to agricultural literacy activities at events including classroom visits, camps, clubs, after-school programs, festivals, virtual field trips, and fairs. She works in collaboration with the Senior Director of Outreach to create agricultural literacy activities and lessons.
Shelby grew up in Isanti, Minnesota where she was actively involved in 4-H and the Minnesota High School Rodeo Association. Shelby’s agricultural background began at an early age competing with horses. She has a passion for teaching others and sharing her love for all things agriculture.
panel
Kellee Rasmussen
Poultry Producer
Kellee Rasmussen was with First State Bank and Trust Company, now RVR Bank in Fremont Nebraska for 35 years. Servicing customers in many capacities, she retired as VP of Operations in 2012. From 2013-2018 she was with the Fremont Public Schools serving as the School to Career and Career Development director for the district. She also directed the Teammates Program. In 2019 along with her husband, son and family moved from Saunders County to Wheeler County NE. They erected a chicken layer barn for Hendrix Genetics out of Grand Island NE. Kellee now manages and works daily in the barn for the corporation which houses over 40,000 birds. She became a member of the Nebraska Poultry Association in 2020 and now serves on the board of directors.
Along with her husband Mike of 45 years, they have 2 sons, David married to Jordan Rasmussen of Ericson NE and Kevin Rasmussen of Omaha NE. They have one granddaughter Hadliegh. They also farm along with David in Wheeler County NE.
panel
Emily Benton
Breeder Manager at Hendrix Genetics
Emily Benton is a breeder manager with Hendrix Genetics, a genetic company that supplies primarily egg laying chickens to the United States. Emily has over two years of experience in her current role after interning and working with several different poultry companies across the industry. Emily grew up in Southern Ohio showing chickens in 4-H and assisted with FFA Poultry Judging during college. Emily is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a major in Animal Sciences, minors in Meat Science and Agribusiness, and an emphasis in Poultry. Emily is also a graduate of the Midwest Poultry Consortium’s Center of Excellence Program. Emily was recently awarded the Nebraska Poultry Industry’s Person of the Year Award for her work done with Hendrix and community outreach while serving on the Nebraska Poultry Industry Board.
moderator
Dawn Kucera
Nebraska Farm Bureau Promotion & Engagement Committee
Description
What happens when farmers, educators, and agriculture industry professionals team up? You get more than just chicks in a classroom—you get a hands-on, engaging experience that sparks student curiosity and connects classroom learning to real-world agriculture.
In this panel, we’ll share how a collaborative effort brought poultry education to life for Nebraska students—through live chick hatching, classroom lessons, and a new student reader featuring voices from farmers, processors, and educators. Whether you represent an agriculture organization, classroom, or industry partner, you’ll walk away with ideas, inspiration, and actionable steps to start—or strengthen—your own impactful partnerships.
After-school Students and Local Food Systems
Room: Silver 8
Alexus Hansen
Environmental Education & Hydroponic Specialist, Beyond School Bells
Alexus Hansen is the Environmental Education & Hydroponic Specialist at Beyond School Bells, Nebraska’s statewide network for afterschool and summer programs. She graduated from UNL in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and minors in Plant Biology and Environmental Science. She has a passion for nature, sustainability, and education. She spreads her passions however she can through her work, whether it be through conferences, presentations, farm tours, conservation outreach, or school consultations. Alexus assists with BSB’s Environmental Conservation Action Program, working to support and guide students in service-based learning surrounding the environment, local food systems, conservation, and STEM.
Description
This session will introduce Beyond School Bells and current partnership with the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation in engaging afterschool programs in their local food systems. Students can be leaders of agricultural literacy in afterschool activities, clubs, and lessons through opportunities for student leadership and partnership. The session will briefly describe how we have integrated youth leadership in food systems using hydroponics in afterschool clubs and FFA partnerships. Our goal for the session is to share our experiences so far, hear your thoughts and ideas, and provide the resources and opportunity to support students to lead afterschool programming near you.
Get Certified in Ag Literacy: Tools for Teaching Food, Farming & Sustainability
Room: Silver 10
Michelle Burrows
Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University
Michelle S. Burrows is an Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University (USU). She specializes in Agricultural Education and is passionate about agricultural literacy and fostering student engagement. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Literacy from the University of Nevada, Reno. Before pursuing her PhD at USU, she taught agriculture for several years and worked closely with educators and students in the field. In addition to being an assistant professor, she currently serves as the Team Leader for the National Center for Agricultural Literacy (NCAL), which is housed at USU. In this role, she supports Agriculture in the Classroom programs across all 50 states and U.S. territories, focusing on curriculum development, professional training, and agricultural literacy research.
Description
Discover a powerful new resource designed to help bring agriculture into any program with confidence. This session will introduce the Agricultural Literacy Certification Program, a self-paced online course developed by the National Center for Agricultural Literacy (NCAL) and Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC).
Participants will explore how this program supports K–12 educators in integrating agricultural concepts across subjects, with modules covering sustainable agriculture, food systems, and the economic impact of farming. Learn how to access the course, navigate the content, and use it to enhance curriculum, meet educational standards, and inspire student curiosity about where their food, fiber, and fuel come from.
Whether you’re new to ag literacy or looking to expand your knowledge, this workshop will equip you with the tools to grow agricultural literacy in your classroom and community.
1:40 – 2:30 p.m.
Move, Unlock & Reap the Harvest
Room: Silver 9
Emily Hulse
MS, Nebraska Department of Education | Farm to School Specialist
Emily began working as a Farm to School Specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education in April 2024. She’s spent the past 15+ years in the Community Nutrition field working for non-profit organizations coordinating a variety of early childhood programs, public health-related projects, and food security initiatives. Emily is passionate about supporting educators, as their work is vital to the success of our communities and health of future generations.
Erika Wibbles
21st CCLC State Coordinator, Nebraska Department of Education
Erika serves as the State Coordinator for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, working to enhance learning and achievement through supporting positive behavior, social interactions, mental & physical health and safety of students in afterschool. Prior to transitioning into education, Erika worked in public health implementing national level evidence-based programs at the local level to drive impact. Her passion for youth fuels her ongoing commitment to engage, connect, and create meaningful change that ensures the best outcomes for students.
Description
Embark on a journey of learning and wellness with the Walk to Unlock Nebraska program, the foundation of an exciting new collaboration featuring Harvest of the Month. Together, these programs offer four unique trails designed to explore Nebraska’s rich agricultural heritage while promoting physical activity. Participants move individually or in teams through each virtual trail by engaging in physical activity. Along the way, they reach checkpoints and gain insights into Nebraska’s history, agriculture, and natural environment. Bring Nebraska to life with hands-on learning around these topics, including new Farm to School resources that are easy to plug and play in a variety of settings: classrooms, afterschool programs, early care and education, and at home.
Room: Silver 8
Megahn Schafer
Executive Director, Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation
You have a story that matters — and AI can help you tell it faster, clearer, and more confidently, without losing the heart behind your words. In this hands-on session, we’ll explore simple, practical ways to use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas, write social media posts, and respond gracefully to tough questions.
Whether you’re completely new to AI or just curious about how it can help, this workshop will give you easy exercises, real examples, and friendly guidance to get started. No tech skills required — just your experience, your voice, and a willingness to try something new!
Walk away with ready-to-use prompts, ideas for your next posts, and the confidence to keep telling your story — your way.
*Participants are welcomed to bring a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to the session for greater interaction.
Discover Ag Careers: Where Passion Meets Possibility
Room: Silver 10
Michelle Burrows
Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University
Michelle S. Burrows is an Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University (USU). She specializes in Agricultural Education and is passionate about agricultural literacy and fostering student engagement. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Literacy from the University of Nevada, Reno. Before pursuing her PhD at USU, she taught agriculture for several years and worked closely with educators and students in the field. In addition to being an assistant professor, she currently serves as the Team Leader for the National Center for Agricultural Literacy (NCAL), which is housed at USU. In this role, she supports Agriculture in the Classroom programs across all 50 states and U.S. territories, focusing on curriculum development, professional training, and agricultural literacy research.
Description
Agriculture is more than farming; it’s innovation, technology, science, and sustainability. This workshop introduces educators to the Discover Agriculture Careers resources from Agriculture in the Classroom, designed to open students’ eyes to the wide range of careers in the ag industry.
Perfect for middle and high school settings, these tools help students connect their skills and passions to meaningful roles in food, fiber, and fuel industries. Leave with ready-to-use resources and fresh strategies to guide your students as they explore dynamic and rewarding career paths in agriculture.
2:40 – 3:30 p.m.
More Than a Magazine: Bringing Agriculture Literacy to Life
Room: Silver 9
Shelby Snidarich
Education Specialist, Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation
Elizabeth Lipp
Education Specialist, Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation
Description
Get ready for a fast-paced, interactive session that transforms everyday reading materials into unforgettable learning experiences! Join Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom education specialists as they showcase how ag-accurate books and classroom visits come alive with hands-on activities, real-world connections, and cross-curricular impact.
From science to social studies and everything in between, discover how AITC resources go beyond the page to spark curiosity and deepen understanding. You’ll walk away with ready-to-use ideas, engaging activities, and a fresh take on how to bring agriculture literacy into any learning setting.
Come curious—leave inspired!
Enhancing Education In & Out of the Classroom
Room: Silver 8
Kerry Elsen
4-H Youth Development Educator for Buffalo County, Nebraska Extension
Kerry is a 4-H Youth Development Educator in Buffalo County. Her focus is Agricultural Literacy education; Science, Engineering and Technology; and communication and life skill development. She has been part of Nebraska Extension for more than 20 years.
Description
This combination of in-class and out-of-class learning helps make education more engaging, relevant, and connected to the world around students. Dive into a variety of hands-on lessons that can enhance any event through dynamic partnerships with Nebraska Extension.
All Hands On Deck: Engaging Activities and Displays That Spark Curiosity
Room: Silver 10
Karen Grant
Nebraska Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee
Karen Grant is a dedicated Nebraska pig farmer and respected leader in the agricultural community. Based near Meadow Grove, she plays a key role in her family’s farrow-to-finish pig operation, focusing on the farrowing barns, animal welfare, and farm finances. In addition to livestock, the farm also produces corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.
Karen has held numerous leadership positions, including six years on the Nebraska Pork Producers Association Board and participation in the Pork Leadership Institute. Her advocacy work has taken her to Japan and China with the U.S. Meat Export Federation, promoting U.S. pork abroad. She was honored as the 2015 Ag-ceptional Woman of the Year and has represented Nebraska producers at the National Pork Forum more than a dozen times.
A strong supporter of agricultural literacy and community engagement, Karen volunteers with the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation’s Ag Pen Pal Program and other local initiatives.
Description
Looking for fresh ways to connect with others about agriculture? This interactive session will explore creative, hands-on activities and displays that invite curiosity and conversation. Whether it’s a classroom visit, fair booth, or community event, you can make an impact! We’ll discuss a range of engagement ideas, then try out games, activities, and visuals you can adapt to your own audience. Perfect for teachers, FFA members, volunteers, or anyone excited to bring farming, ranching, and food to life in a fun, approachable way.
