28 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN June/July 2026 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FFA CHAPTER FUND CLASSROOM INNOVATION, LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR NEBRASKA FFA MEMBERS. 2025 I Believe Ad.indd 1 5/7/25 11:20 AM PEERS YOUTH PROGRAMS BUILD NEXT-GEN BEEF ADVOCATES MADISON DOESCHOT | COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, NEBRASKA BEEF COUNCIL Across Nebraska, youth programs supported by the Nebraska Beef Council are helping students connect the dots between agriculture, food and their everyday lives. From elementary classrooms to university campuses, these initiatives are shaping the next generation of informed consumers, advocates and industry leaders. One of the most direct touchpoints with younger students is the Ag Sack Lunch Program coordinated by Ginger Jelinek. Focused on fourth grade students across Nebraska, the program blends a Nebraska-produced meal with hands-on agricultural education. With both in-person and virtual options available, the reach of students continues to grow from Omaha to Scottsbluf f. The in-person experience gives students a 25-minute interactive lesson while they enjoy a sack lunch made up of Nebraska products on the lawn of the Nebraska State Capitol. Virtual options ensure access for classrooms across the state. The program continues to expand, reaching about 2,500 students so far this year, with another 2,500 scheduled, along with hundreds more through virtual visits. “The program is about cultivating understanding,” Jelinek says. “Each lunch becomes a hands-on learning experience where Nebraska students connect the food in front of them to the farmers, crops and livestock that sustain their communities.” While programs like Ag Sack Lunch introduce agriculture at an early age, older students have opportunities to dive deeper through the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium (NYBLS) hosted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). According to Bryan Reiling, professor of animal science, who has been involved with NYBLS since 2017, the program is designed to build both knowledge and leadership. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 Elementary students sit on the lawn of the Nebraska Capitol while learning about the contents of their Ag Sack Lunch.
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