Several Doniphan-Trumbull and Giltner students were recently honored by the NSAA for academic and athletic achievement as members of the NSAA Academic All-State teams.

The following leadership and scholarship guidelines apply:

1. A nominated athlete must be a varsity player or organizational leader who has played a significant role in the organizational activity during the seasons for which nominations are accepted.

The NSAA released the football schedules for Doniphan-Trumbull, Giltner and the rest of the schools in the state on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

Below are the schedules for Doniphan-Trumbull and Giltner for 2010 and 2011.

Rural Advantage Conference Planned: The 2010 Rural Advantage/Healthy Farms Conference is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 5th and 6th at the Downtown Holiday Inn in Lincoln. The keynote speaker is Nebraska 1st District Congressman, Jeff Fortenberry, a strong supporter of local foods. He will kick off the conference with a talk on “The Potential of Local Foods in Nebraska”. Conference programs will address sustainable production agriculture, alternative crops and enterprises, local food production systems and adding value to your product. There will be presentations on NRCS programs and resources for organic farmers and those transitioning to organic farming. A farmer panel will cover the challenges of organic farming, a long-term no-till farmer will discuss the use of cover crops in his cropping system and another will discuss what to do when the kids are gone.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Shauna Diane England graduated from Kansas State University - College of Veterinary Medicine in Manhattan Kan. on May 16.

She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree with Magna Cum Laude honors.

England is a 2000 graduate of Doniphan High School and a 2004 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln.

I had the distinct pleasure of attending the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders Conference this past month. It is an invitation only conference which brings legislative agricultural leaders together from across the country to focus on ways we can promote agriculture and address rural issues in a positive and constructive manner. This conference was attended by representatives from 47 states and while our challenges may seem unique on the surface there are many common threads that tie together the issues we face.

While our agenda covered a broad array of topics such as invasive weed control, water supply and demand between rural and urban uses, declining populations, renewable energy and rural economic development, one subject in particular commanded a strong interest. Sessions on how to support a strong livestock sector were well attended and this important issue was addressed in multiple presentations throughout the conference.