LEADERSHIP KEARNEY CLASS #34 OCTOBER SESSION

Leadership Kearney Class #34 kicked off their Ag, Energy, and Environment day with a breakfast at Birdie's & Brews in Kearney. From there, the class carpooled to Kappa Ethanol in Ravenna, where they met tour guides Aiden and Jonathan. During the tour, the class learned about the impact the plant has on farmers and the agriculture industry. Aiden spoke on the production of ethanol and the impact the company has on the state. We even got to pass a bottle around to smell it (not drink it). Jonathan explained that most farmers sell corn to Kappa because the unloading time is 9 minutes, or less, on average, and they have very competitive pricing.

The 2nd stop was in Pleasanton with Sweetwater Hemp Company where Chief Marketing and Extraction Officer, Brett Mayo, talked about the operation of manufacturing CBD and THC products - which are concentrations of hemp. The class learned that Brett uses all natural ways of production - only using water and ice to develop full spectrum oil and products, where other companies use outdated equipment and processes such as ethanol, butane, and CO2.

Next, the group traveled across the road to visit Megan Mayo, Chief Operating Officer at Sprout House. During the tour, the class learned that Sprout House grows, packages, and distributes 11 different herbs to Walmart. In a typical week, the company produces 6,000 boxes. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, production increases to 25,000 boxes per week. Sage and rosemary are their most popular herbs. Other herbs that they grow are: mint, basil, chives, and parsley.

After that, Leadership Kearney Class #34 headed to Regen Ag Lab in Pleasanton. There, Lance - President and Co-Owner - and Jeremey - Vice President and Co-Owner - explained how they test soil, and the benefits of soil testing for growers looking to enhance their production.

Next, the group traveled to CSS Farms for a conversation on "People, Potatoes, and Possibilities." The group learned that CSS Farms was founded in 1986 when two families joined together to grow their first field of potatoes. Class #34 participated in a lively trivia game of Kahoot! to test their knowledge on potato farming. Classmate Brenda dominated the trivia session and earned some CSS Farms swag! Several members of the company discussed their experience and passion for potato production. The company's mission is "Every Field, Every Load, Every Day" and they are a main supplier to Frito Lay for chip manufacturing.

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) was the final tour of the day. There, the class heard from JT, Kevin, Jeremy, and Brian about the impact the company has on the state and the region. We learned that NPPD is based in Columbus, and employs 2,000 workers across multiple locations. NPPD serves 84 of Nebraska's 93 counties and has a total of over 94,000 customers. Coal and nuclear energy are the current dominant energy sources, but NPPD is also looking to invest more money into gas/oil in the future.

Submitted by session historian, Sarah Luther.