Nebraska Governor's Ag Excellence

 For more than a decade, the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) has sponsored The Governor's Agriculture Excellence Awards which honors and financially rewards 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters each year for outstanding performance. The awards are competitive and are granted to Clubs and Chapters that most actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization by using a program of activities that emphasizes student development, Club/Chapter development, and community development. Clubs/Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership. The Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Award aids in improving the quality of the agricultural education program and helps prepare young people for careers in agriculture.

The Kool Kreative Kids 4-H Club in Kearney County, Nebraska received a 2012 Governor's Ag Excellence Award and used part of its grant money to support Quilts of Valor by purchasing the fabric and supplies to make a QOV. As you can see from the attached thank you note, Club Members did a great job on the quilt as it received purple ribbons at both the county and state level.

Attached is a scan of the thank you note NIFA received.

Governor's Ag Excellence
Program Description

The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, which offers agricultural financing opportunities through the Beginning Farmer/Rancher Program, formed an annual awards program in July of 1996. Known as the Governor's Agricultural Excellence Awards, this program honors and financially rewards 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters each year for outstanding performance.

The challenges facing young people today looking at a career in agriculture are formidable. To help prepare for the rigors of these challenges, youth Ag organizations, such as the 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters throughout the state, are constantly looking for ways to motivate young people while at the same time preparing them for a farming or ranching career.

On an annual basis, the NIFA-sponsored 4-H and FFA Governor’s Excellence Awards are presented to the top-rated 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters in the state. The eligible recipients of this excellence award are the approximately 1,900 4-H Clubs containing almost 26,000 members, and over 130 FFA Chapters, which have seen membership grow from 5,000 to over 16,000 members in recent years. The awards range from $500 to $2,500, given in the name of the Club or Chapter. This is to reward those Clubs and Chapters that most actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. They improve their organization's operations by using a program of activities that emphasizes student development, Club/Chapter development, and community development. Clubs/Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership. The Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Award aids in improving the quality of the agricultural education program and helps prepare young people for careers in agriculture.

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Sara Kenny

Central Midwest Region 5 Coordinator (NE, IA, KS)

Quilts of Valor Foundation