Lower Elkhorn NRD - Educator of the Year
Launch the media gallery 1 playerCongratulations Mrs. Evans on being recognized recently at the Lower Elkhorn NRD Awards Banquet!!
The Lower Elkhorn NRD (LENRD) honored three area individuals at their annual awards banquet held on Thursday, March 14, 2024. This year, three awards were presented to District residents who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the stewardship of our natural resources.
2023 Outstanding Tree Planter Award – Michael Nissen Family, Oakland
The Outstanding Tree Planter Award is presented to individuals within the District who have shown a strong commitment to the planting and care of trees.
2023 Educator of the Year Award – Jessica Evans, Osmond
Nebraska’s NRDs have a variety of projects and programs to educate both youth and adults about conservation and natural resources. To make the greatest impact, the LENRD partners with schools across the District encouraging students to become good stewards of our natural resources. Every other year, the LENRD takes the time to recognize a teacher who has demonstrated excellence throughout their career – especially when it comes to how they educate their students about natural resources and conservation.
Jessica Evans, who teaches Art/Agriculture and is an FFA Advisor for Osmond Community Schools, was selected to receive the LENRD Educator of the Year Award.
Outside of traditional classroom and textbook work in Plant Science, Horticulture, and Natural Resources, Jessica’s students experience hands-on activities increasing their natural resources knowledge through programs such as Know Your Well and Northeast Area Land Judging competitions. She has also been educating students in the importance of land and soil conservation implementing no-till practices on their FFA test plots. With the help of the Osmond community, Jessica has developed an 8-acre corn and soybean test plot for the Osmond FFA Chapter.
“Jessica is an outstanding educator in our District,” said Julie Wragge, LENRD Education Coordinator. “Last fall I had the pleasure of visiting Jessica’s classroom to kick off the Know Your Well program for the year. She has a very natural ability to keep the kids focused, involved, and motivated. She uses hands-on “in the field” work to shape the students into becoming forward thinkers and future conservation leaders. It’s easy to see how much she enjoys teaching.”
Jessica became part of the “ag-ed” community in 2015 when she co-taught Agricultural Education with Craig Flaming at Osmond Community Schools. At this time, she was also working on starting the FFA program at Osmond. Osmond officially became an FFA chapter in 2016. During the last nine years, the program has produced 16 State FFA Degrees, seven Top-3 State Proficiency Awards, one State Proficiency champion, and numerous LDE and CDE State Qualifiers under her leadership.
Currently, Jessica serves as the FFA District 4 Chair as well as on the Nebraska Agricultural Educator Association Board. She has been married to her husband, Andrew, for nine years and together they have a two-year-old son, Austin.
2023 Volunteer Appreciation Award – Dave Wimmer, West Point
Receiving the newly created Volunteer Appreciation Award is Dave Wimmer of West Point. Though he was originally nominated to receive the Outstanding Tree Planter Award, Dave’s community involvement and investment is really what stood out to staff.