NACTA Newsletter - October/November 2025

October/November 2025

NACTA President Liz Karcher's Message
#NACTA26 Workshop Abstracts - Due Nov. 1!
NACTA Central Region News
NACTA Journal Updates
New NACTA Members
Renew Your NACTA Membership

NACTA Roundup with President Elizabeth Karcher

We are now well underway into the fall semester, and I hope everyone is enjoying both the classroom experience and the many activities happening on your campuses. I'd like to extend a warm welcome to our new members. We are glad to have you as part of the NACTA community! There's a great deal of exciting work happening right now. Planning is well underway for the 2026 conference, upcoming webinars are in development, and our communities are actively working to create new opportunities for all members.

You have probably received an email containing our membership survey over the past month. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and will help guide the development of our next strategic plan. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to anyone on the NACTA Leadership Team! 

Thank you,
Liz Karcher
NACTA President

Top ↑

#NACTA26 Workshop Abstracts Due November 1! Don't Miss Your Chance to Submit!

NACTA is excited to welcome workshop abstract submissions for the NACTA 2026 Annual Conference to be held June 22-26, 2026, in Starkville, Mississippi, USA. The 72nd Annual NACTA Conference will serve as a venue for faculty and graduate students in agricultural, environmental, natural, and life sciences to share their scholarship of teaching, innovative teaching and advising ideas, and other relevant teaching and learning information.

For more information and the full guidelines, click here.

To submit your abstract, click here.

NACTA Central Region News

Happy Fall Semester, NACTA Central Region!

I hope the new academic year is off to a strong and inspiring start for each of you. It is always exciting to see our campuses come alive again with students, ideas, and opportunities for growth. As your Regional Director, I am grateful for the continued energy and innovation our community brings to agricultural teaching, learning, and leadership.

This semester, I am reaching out to invite you—or someone you know—to get more involved with NACTA by serving in one of our open leadership roles. We currently have three Assistant Regional Director positions available. These roles are a great way to help shape regional activities, connect with fellow educators, and contribute to NACTA’s mission of advancing excellence in postsecondary teaching in agriculture.

In addition, we are also seeking Campus Ambassadors from across the Central Region. Campus Ambassadors serve as vital links between NACTA and their home institutions, sharing opportunities, promoting events, and helping us keep our network strong and engaged.

If you are interested in either opportunity—or if you would like to nominate a colleague—please reach out to me. Your involvement can make a meaningful difference, and it is a rewarding way to connect with other passionate educators in our field.

Wishing you a productive and fulfilling fall semester. I look forward to working with many of you in the months ahead.

Warm regards,
Gaurav Jha
Central Regional Director, NACTA

NACTA Central Region Student Member: Bo Garcia

Bo Garcia is a doctoral candidate and Extension Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, dedicated to empowering students through agricultural education. He designs accessible, hands-on learning experiences that connect learners with the meat industry and prepare them for meaningful, skill-based careers. Rooted in a philosophy of providing students with opportunities greater than his own, Bo applies innovative teaching strategies that foster both technical proficiency and personal growth. His passion for student success was sparked by his time in the Meat Judging Program and continues to grow through collaboration with educators, industry professionals, and community partners.
Fun Story: One of the most memorable teaching moments came during a meat science workshop with high school students. I was demonstrating protein extraction using a hands-on mixing method, and a group of baseball players were the first to give it a try. Let’s just say their enthusiasm translated into velocity! The meat was flung with such force that it splattered across the floor, walls, ceiling… you name it. The classroom looked like an explosion had gone off. It was a mess, but also the perfect reminder of how impactful, messy, and hilarious experiential learning can be.

Top ↑

NACTA Journal Updates

Founded in 1963, The NACTA Journal  is a professional refereed journal published by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA). It is directed toward the scholarship of teaching and learning and the professional advancement of the teaching of agriculture and related disciplines. The NACTA Journal presents papers on all aspects of teaching, including methods, problems, philosophy, and rewards.  The Journal offers something for every teacher in agriculture or a related discipline. Whether traditional classroom or extension-related, its primary purpose is to strengthen professional competence in college and adult teaching.

June 2025:

• 4 Submissions Received
• 2 Published

July 2025:

• 7 Submissions Received
• 3 Published

August 2025:

• 7 Submissions Received
• 2 Published

For more information on the NACTA Journal, and to submit a manuscript or teaching tip, click here.

Top ↑

New NACTA Members

Southern
Adelia Bovell-Benjamin, AL
Gregory MacDonald, FL
Norma Dawkins, AL
Courtney Meyers, TX
Walker Anttila, AL
Catherine DiBendetto, SC
Savannah Douglas, AL
Paul Jackson, LA
Chandler Kyle
Ross Neles

Central
Hayden Wilder, IL
Thomas Burkey, NE
Nicholas Heller, IL
Steven Prewitt, MO
Steve Keeley, KS

Western
Matheus Cezarotto, NM
Sophie Ano

Top ↑

Renew Your NACTA Membership