The Crew
The Crew is for student members who enjoy social media and want to share their love of agriculture with the world. Members gain valuable skills in agriculture communication by learning from industry professionals and hands on experiences. Crew members are selected in the spring and participate in the program for one year.
Ideal Crew Member:
- Cares about the future of agriculture
- Is familiar with all social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- Can express their love for agriculture in 140 characters or less
- Enjoys attending local, state & national conferences & events
- Wants to change the world!
The Crew at a Glance
Milestones
Crew members are expected to reach a series of milestones throughout the year by posting on social media sites and sharing agricultural content with followers using #neagcrew.
Blogs
Crew members write blogs throughout the year that are featured on Nebraska Farm Bureau’s “Stories from the Field” blog
Field Days
Receive hands on ag communication experiences. Field days show members an entire communication process such as creating a video start to finish
Meet-Ups
Meet-ups are in-depth trainings to help you become a better leader in the ag industry. Everything from leadership development to media training
Hangouts
Each month special guests share more about how they use social media and communication strategies every day in their career
2022 Crew Members
Hi everyone! My name is Alexa Tollman and I am from Dawes County. I live near Crawford, Nebraska, where I will be a junior. I am involved in 4-H, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Basketball, and I am the president of the Crawford FFA Chapter. One of my SAEs is having my own commercial cow herd. I look forward to this year on The Crew! I'm so excited to advocate for agriculture and shine a positive light on this way of life!
Hello everyone! My name is MaKenna Lutjelusche and I am from Colfax County! I live on my family’s farm where we raise row crops and run a cow/calf operation. I am heavily involved in my 4-H club and FFA chapter, currently serving as president in both! Being a part of the agricultural community has taught me hard work, dedication, and so much more. It is so important to educate our youth and create future leaders! I am so excited to grow as an agriculturist and advocate for the industry that I love as a member of The Crew!
Hello, my name is Sydney Linse and I am from Keya Paha County. I live on my family's ranch where we raise black angus cattle. I graduated from Keya Paha County High School in 2020. Throughout high school, I was involved in FFA and 4-H and held various leadership roles. I currently attend Chadron State College to study elementary education. I plan to use this degree to help bring agriculture into elementary classrooms and teach young students the importance of agriculture. I am looking forward to being a part of The Crew and I am excited to help promote and advocate for agriculture!
Hi there! My name is Kendall Prior and I am from Chase County. I was born and raised in Imperial where my family owns and operates our family farm and a small feedlot. I am a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying and Public Relations with an emphasis in Agriculture. I have shown sheep and goats since the time that I can remember. I have also been active in 4-Hand FFA throughout the years. Agriculture has given me a network and a community outside of my small county lines. My passion for advocating for agriculture is something I simply cannot ignore, so being a part of something like The Crew and getting the chance to share my love for agriculture is something I am genuinely excited for!
Hello! My name is Whitley Rut and I am from Arthur County. I live on my family’s ranch where we raise cattle and calves and feed young cattle until they gain a certain weight when we can sell them. I am a senior at Arthur County High School where I participate in volleyball, basketball, speech, and band. I am also a member of FFA, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Student Council. I am very passionate about FFA and have been an officer for three years, now serving as president for the second year. I enjoy showing beef and swine in 4-H and FFA. I raise my own Simmental cattle and both show and sell them. I am looking forward to expanding my connections in the agriculture industry and learning how to better advocate for something I love. I’m very passionate about agriculture, and I’m beyond excited to be a part of this year's Crew.
Hello, everyone! My name is Emily Samuelson and I am from Merrick County. I spend most of my time working on my family's farm where we raise Commercial Red Angus cattle. I have a small cow herd of my own and a small flock of sheep that I plan to grow in coming years. I am a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and majoring in Agricultural Education. Throughout high school I have been involved in many activities, but most active in 4-H and FFA. These two organizations have really grown my love for agriculture. I can't wait to participate in The Crew this year to advocate for the industry that I love! I want to take this opportunity to learn more about agriculture and advocate for the farmers and ranchers in our great state.
Hello! My name is Emma Labenz and I’m from Colfax County! I grew up and live on my family’s fourth-generation farm and feedlot. Agriculture has been a part of my life since day one. My older brothers were always finding ways for me to be involved, even when I was barely able to walk. When I was 16, I decided to venture on my own and began a cow/calf breeding operation. I raise Commercial Black Angus steers and heifers which I sell to the feedlot when it comes time to wean. I calf in the spring and fall so there is always something exciting going on! I feel so honored to be a part of beef production from beginning to end and couldn’t imagine doing anything different. I am so excited to spend the next year advocating for Nebraska agriculture with The Crew!
