Nebraska Youth Programs Build the Next Generation of Beef Advocates
Students visiting the Nebraska State Capitol as part of the Ag Sack Lunch program this spring.
Across Nebraska, youth programs supported by the Nebraska Beef Council are helping students connect the dots between agriculture, food, and their everyday lives. From classrooms to campuses, these initiatives are creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that leave a lasting impact.
One standout effort is the Ag Sack Lunch Program, coordinated by Ginger Jelinek, who is finishing her third year in the role. Focused on fourth grade students, the program combines a meal with agricultural education.
“The Ag Sack Lunch Program educates fourth grade students across Nebraska,” Jelinek said. “With both in-person and virtual options available, the reach of students continues to grow from Omaha to Scottsbluff.”
During in-person visits, where students also get to visit the Nebraska State Capitol, students receive a Nebraska-produced lunch while participating in a 25-minute lesson about the state’s agricultural industry. Virtual options ensure even more classrooms can participate. The program continues to expand, reaching approximately 2,500 students so far this year, with another 2,500 scheduled, plus hundreds more through virtual presentations. Beyond numbers, the impact is personal. Jelinek recalled a student who stayed after a presentation to ask about studying agriculture and getting involved in the program someday.
“It was really cool to see him so interested at such a young age,” she shared. “You could tell the experience influenced him in the moment.”
The Ag Sack Lunch Program is just one piece of a broader effort to engage Nebraska youth. In 2024, the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium celebrated 20 years of educating students on the beef industry at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus, helping develop future leaders and advocates in both the beef and food science industries.
Additionally, 5,635 students participated in Nebraska Ag in the Classroom programs through the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, learning how cattle are raised, how beef contributes to a healthy diet, and how agriculture supports the state’s economy. Younger students are also introduced to agriculture through events like Fonner Park Ag Day, where 7,000 third and fourth graders interacted with members of the Nebraska Cattlewomen to learn about cattle production and the many products derived from beef.
Together, these programs are doing more than educating, they are cultivating understanding. As Jelinek put it, “Every lesson helps students see agriculture not as an abstract concept, but as a vital, local industry they are already part of.”
####
The Nebraska Beef Council is a non-profit organization served by a nine-member board of directors. The volunteers oversee the beef checkoff in Nebraska and checkoff-funded programs. Programs for marketing and promotion are funded by the $1/head beef checkoff.
Share This Page