Meet the 2018-2019 Class of The Crew!

Nebraska Farm Bureau has identified sixteen social media savvy student members to join our Crew. The Crew is a group of Nebraska Farm Bureau student members who share their love of agriculture through social media. Each member is selected in the spring and participates for one year.

A Crew member:

• Supports and amplifies Nebraska Farm Bureau and Foundation messages.
• Creates original content to portray accurate agriculture messages.
• Participates in facilitated learning sessions from industry professionals.
• Leads social media advocacy for their generation.

Follow along this year as these students bring to life rural America through their work on social media!

Emily Groeteke
Hey everyone!! My name is Emily Groeteke and I will be a junior at Boone Central High School this fall in Albion. I live on our family farm just outside of Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. We run a feedlot, cow/calf operation, raise corn, and soybeans. I am also a member of 4-H and FFA. Showing cattle has taught me responsibility, hard work, and determination about something you enjoy. Advocating for agriculture is something very necessary and important for society not only in our state, but our country. I can’t wait to share my love for agriculture with the 2018-2019 Nebraska Ag Crew!

Shelby Dunn
Hello agriculturalists! My name is Shelby Dunn and I am a senior at North Bend Central. My goals after graduation are to get a degree in agricultural education and achieve my dream of being an Ag teacher. I live on my family’s farm where we raise corn, soybeans, and cattle. I raise and show my own Angus cattle. I have done numerous 4-H projects and even served as a 4-H Ambassador. In FFA, I have stayed as active as possible and I am currently serving as the Secretary of my chapter. I am excited use my drive, determination, and passion for agriculture to close the gap between farmers and consumers. I can’t wait to grow as a leader and use my skills to be a positive voice for agriculture!

Eliza Hunzeker
Hello! My name is Eliza Hunzeker and I’m from Pawnee County. I am proud to be a 6th generation diversified Nebraska farmer. On our farm in the southeast corner of the state, we raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and sheep. Being actively involved on our family farm has helped to develop my passion for agriculture. This year I will serving as the Pawnee City FFA Chapter President, and I’m looking forward to competing with my team in Agronomy at the National FFA contest in the fall. As a senior at Pawnee City Public Schools, I will be involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, One Act, Speech, trap shooting, and FFA. Showing livestock, especially sheep, has been an important part of my life. I’m excited to share my passion for agriculture as member of The Crew!

Jacque Johnson
Hello! I’m Jacque Johnson! I am a fourth-generation cattle producer, 4-H and FFA member. I grew up on a ranch northwest of Grand Island where my family and I have commercial cow/calf and Simmental seed stock cow herds. I enjoy showing cattle to help promote my family’s business. I am a senior at Northwest High School where I am involved in Band, Student Council, National Honor Society, Principal’s Advisory Council, and our College and Career Fair Planning Committee. I have always been extremely passionate about advocating for agriculture. It is more important than ever that we educate our youth and create individuals who will be leaders in the agriculture industry. I am extremely excited to be a part of The Crew and share more about the industry that makes me who I am.

Brittani Pospisil
Hello agriculturists! My name is Brittani Pospisil and I will be a senior at Creighton Community Schools this fall. I reside on a third-generation farm outside of Creighton Nebraska where we raise corn and soybeans. Growing up I always wanted to be involved with the livestock portion of the agriculture industry. Being involved in 4-H and FFA has broadened my horizons on connecting with people who share the same love that I do for the industry. I am heavily involved in my FFA chapter, and am currently serving at the President. I am super excited to be able to work with local producers to be the voice of agriculture. I am overjoyed at the opportunity to be serving on the Ag Crew team, and am looking forward to being able to work with numerous ag leaders.

Mikayla Martensen
Hello everyone! My name is Mikayla Martensen and I live just outside of the small town of Humphrey, NE, where we have more cows than people! In school, I will be a junior, and I’m involved in FFA, FCCLA, Band, Choir, and Speech. I’m also involved in the local 4-H club. At home, I am always outside working with the cattle, or riding around with my dad checking fields. Even as a little girl, I have always been passionate about agriculture. Whether it was cattle or crops, they have always been major parts of my life. While I have always been involved in an ag-related life, my passion for teaching ag has recently sparked. I hope to continue growing this passion for agriculture with The Crew, all while spreading the word of agriculture to the world.

Emily Kammerer
Hello everyone, I’m Emily Kammerer! This fall I will be attending the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, NE and majoring in Veterinary Technology!  I was raised in Sutherland, where my dad works for a farm outside of Sutherland. On the farm they raise corn, soybeans, and wheat. Although I never lived on the farm, I was very active in helping my dad with his work. In high school I participated in FFA. This gave me experience in agriculture. I am excited to grow as an Agriculturist and help others use their voices to advocate for Agriculture during my time on The Crew!

Allie Portenier
Hey everyone! My name is Allie Portenier and I live on our family ranch by Farnam Nebraska, a small agricultural community of 171 people. I am a senior at Eustis-Farnam High School. I have been involved in agriculture since the day I was born. I love everything to do with our cattle and cattle is where my passion for agriculture came from. FFA has given me many ways to share my passion and grow my agriculture experience. Through “The Crew” I hope to be able to share my passion with many more people!

Makenzie Derr
Hello Ag world!! My name is MaKenzie Derr and I will be a senior at Sutherland High School! I am involved in many extracurricular activities but my most time consuming and my favorite is FFA! I am currently serving as the chapter Secretary and I am very excited to be competing in Poultry Evaluation at National Convention in October! There isn’t a single thing I would change about my journey with FFA. I can’t wait to start this journey with you all, this is going to be the best year to advocate for agriculture!

Rosie Nelson
Hey everyone! My name is Rosie Nelson! I am a junior at O’Neill high school, and I currently serve as my FFA chapter’s treasurer. I have been involved in FFA for four years now, but I have been a part of the agriculture industry for most of my life. I enjoy working in my school’s greenhouse, and manage it as my supervised agricultural experience. I also participate in cheerleading during football and basketball season along-side FFA. I plan to attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln and major in agriculture education with the hopes of becoming an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. I am so incredibly excited to be a part of the ag crew this year and have the opportunity to advocate for the agriculture industry and to instill knowledge of agriculture in kids and adults alike!

Wyatt Hubbard
Hello!! My name is Wyatt Hubbard and I am a fourth-generation cattle rancher from Elm Creek. My family raises red angus beef cattle on a small ranch just north of Elm Creek. I have been extremely involved in agriculture from a very young age through both 4-H and more recently FFA. This past year I served as my FFA Chapter President and am currently serving as my 4-H Club President. In my free time I like to work on my show cattle and play with my two Australian Shepherds, Cowboy and Lolli Dog. I recently graduated from high school and will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and double majoring in Agricultural Education and Animal Science. Through FFA and 4-H I have really found my passion in agriculture and hope to express that through my work with The Crew!

Anna Ready
I live and work on my family farm outside of Scribner. We are growing our Shorthorn Cow/Calf herd and I also show Holsteins from a dairy farm in Wayne, Nebraska. I will be a junior at Logan View High School this fall, I am active in FFA and I am our chapter’s Reporter, I also play softball. After high school I plan to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and study Agriculture Education! As well as being an Ag Teacher I would like to take over the family farm and continue raising Shorthorns. I am passionate about all things agriculture and advocating for the industry!

Isaac Kamler
Hello! I’m Isaac Kamler, a senior from Shickley where I enjoy working as the fourth generation on my family farm. We raise corn, soybeans, cattle and chickens. My passion for agriculture sprouted at a young age and has continued to influence my future plans and goals. I have been actively involved in FFA where I have served as an officer. I also participate in drama, speech, football, basketball, and track. Through these experiences and opportunities, I have developed valuable skills and deepened my passion for agriculture. By being a part of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Crew, I hope to advocate for agriculture and share my love for this industry!

Katharine Schudel
Hi everyone! I’m Katharine Schudel. I am the fourth generation on my family farm south of North Loup. My family focuses on being good stewards of the land while growing crops and owning a cow/calf operation. The past two years, I have attended NCTA, participated on the livestock judging team, and received my certificate for artificial insemination. In the spring, I graduated and now I will continue my education at UNL. While being a crew member, I want to share with people about how agriculture impacts their daily lives and the farmer and rancher’s story about how they care for their land and livestock. I look forward to growing new connections this year as a member of Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Crew!

Caleb Hendrickson
Hello Agriculturalists! My name is Caleb Hendrickson and I’m a senior from Shickley. I plan to major in Communications with a minor in Philosophy and return to school for a Law Degree. I’ve grown up on a small family farm where we’ve raised several different livestock and a steady production of corn and soybeans. I am involved in 4-H and serve as our FFA chapter President. Agriculture deserves a strong voice, and I plan to continue making positive impacts in agriculture. I hope to inspire today’s youth to take a stand for agriculture.

Emmalee Schanou
Hello Everyone! My name is Emmalee Schanou and I live in North Platte. I go to school in Wallace where I am a senior and a member of our FFA chapter. Although I don’t live on a farm, I get the opportunity to be around plants and animals every day where my passion has grown since learning more about them. I have always loved animals and I plan to be a veterinarian someday. Being a part of the Wallace FFA chapter has given me the opportunity to learn more by participating in Career Development Events, such as Vet Science and Natural Resources. By being a part of The Crew I look forward to advocating for agriculture. I am excited to share my agricultural story!