Former governor joins Trump appointee in touring McCook FFA tower gardens

Making the check presentation were Stacey Agnew, from left, of the Nebraska FFA Foundation, Dave Heineman and Charles Herbster, joined by members of MHS FFA and FFA teacher, Lauren Miller, first row, far right.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — A $5,000 check from the Nebraska FFA Foundation was formally presented Wednesday to the McCook FFA program.

Presenting the check was Stacey Agnew, executive director of the Nebraska FFA Foundation, joined by Charles Herbster, appointed by President Donald J. Trump as chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Advisory Council and Dave Heineman, former governor of Nebraska for 10 years and also a member of the advisory council.

The funds were used in conjunction with donations from the McCook Community Foundation, $10,000 and Farm Credit Services of America, $8,000, for the purchase of aeroponic tower gardens for FFA horticulture students at McCook High School.

Kaylin Martin, left, a FFA student at McCook High School, explains the aeroponic tower gardens to Stacey Agnew, executive director of the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

Agnew, who grew up on a farm in Nebraska, said she remembers the farm crisis in the 1980s, when her mother went back to school to become a teacher. Agnew became a member of FFA in high school and said the experience changed her life, later becoming a FFA teacher. Being a teacher taught her first-hand how important good equipment is to FFA programs, she said.

Herbster, too, was a FFA member in school and grew up around agriculture. An angus cattle farmer from Falls City, Neb., he is the owner of The Conklin Company, a chemical marketing-distribution company in Kansas City, Mo., and owner of a cattle breeding operation in Northern Virginia. Herbster said one of the biggest challenges he sees — other than getting the prices of soybeans and corn back up — is educating the urban population on what it actually takes to get that steak to the table.

Heineman, who lived in McCook as a child and then in Benkelman, Neb., said there are advantages to growing up in small town, as students can participate in more activities than in an urban school.

Charles Herbster of Fall City, Neb., center, chairman of President Trump’s Agriculture and Rural Advisory Council, talks to FFA students before the check presentation Wednesday.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

Also present at the check presentation were McCook FFA students, MHS FFA teacher, Lauren Miller, and a representative of the tower garden company.

Miller said plants from the aeroponic gardens will be available to the public to buy on May 6-7 at the high school ag department. From 3:30 to 6:30 pm., plants that will be available include several varieties of lettuce (romain, red and green salad bowl), cilantro, kale, chives, romaine lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, jalapeño and peppers.