Submitted by AnnaLisa Mosel, Gothenburg FFA Chapter Sponsor
Photo: Dr. Kohl asked each student to share with the audience one thing that they learned today. Halsey Thomalla is giving her answer.
On Tuesday, December 10th, a group of students from our chapter had the unique opportunity to attend the Nebraska Bankers Conference in Kearney. We were proud to be one of only two FFA chapters represented at this prestigious event. The students who attended were Jaden Hunt-Most, Kiarra Jonas, Tyler Hetz, Seynab Abdulkadir, Scout Bell, Ruby Bell, Halsey Thomalla, and Cade Atkinson.
This opportunity was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Dayspring Bank. Their support allowed our students to experience this educational and professional conference, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to investing in our future leaders.
The conference serves as a vital resource for farmers, ranchers, and bankers by providing insights into upcoming economic and agricultural trends. The keynote speaker, Dr. David M. Kohl, shared his expertise on the financial outlook for the year ahead. He delivered powerful lessons, such as:
"Quick money builds ego, while slow and steady money builds discipline."
"To solve problems effectively, start from the root and work your way up."
"Transitioning to renewable energy sources requires collective effort—we can’t do it alone."
Dr. Kohl also emphasized the importance of understanding value, noting that some people “know the cost of everything and the value of nothing,” a lesson in appreciating the broader impact of our decisions.
Attendees also heard from meteorologist Eric Snodgrass, who provided an in-depth look at weather patterns for the upcoming year. He highlighted significant developments, including the potential for drought caused by shifting high-pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean and Bermuda. Mr. Snodgrass also discussed the unusual path of Hurricane Milton, which defied expectations by moving north into Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama rather than eastward over Florida. This anomaly was caused by a high-pressure system over the northern U.S., which redirected the storm inland.
Additionally, students learned about the unexpected agricultural benefits of western wildfires, such as the nutrients they deposit into the soil, and explored concepts like the “lake effect,” which explains how narrow, intense snow bands can bring substantial snowfall to northern states in a short period.
The Nebraska Bankers Conference offered our students a wealth of knowledge, from financial strategies to meteorological insights. We are proud of their engagement and grateful to Dayspring Bank for making this experience possible. We look forward to seeing how our students apply these lessons in their future endeavors.