2 days Ago By Special to the Daily News
Whether it was exhibiting livestock as a 4-H’er or her work in recent years as an Extension educator, Sarah Nelson Polacek wants to make the best better. Nelson Polacek of rural Norfolk was named the Spotlight Award winner during the AgCeptional Women’s Conference on Friday at the Lifelong Learning Center on the Northeast Community College campus. The announcement was made as part of a video tribute that was played during the opening session of the 16th annual conference.
The video was sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America and produced by the Northeast Agriculture Department and District 25 Productions. A special selection committee made up of professionals from agricultural businesses and operations is assembled each year to select the winner from a competitive group of nominees. Joan Ruskamp of Dodge said the community of more than 300 that was gathered on Friday was bonded by agriculture.
She said there can be difficult times, and if attendees weren’t smiling Friday morning, try to lift them up. “Let it all go and let’s have fun today,” Ruskamp said. Charlene Widener, Northeast vice president of educational services, provided the welcome for the conference, which had a theme of “Emerging Agriculture.
” Nelson Polacek was joined on stage at the conference by her family, including husband, Jeremy, and children Franklin, Garrison and Lillian. She also had special thanks for her father, Kenny Nelson of Newman Grove, her late mother, Patty, many of her coworkers from University of Nebraska Extension and friends. The nomination form for Nelson Polacek noted her passion for agriculture, including her enthusiasm and how she thinks outside the box.
She grew up showing swine in 4-H, and her father continues to raise cattle. Nelson Polacek still helps her dad with the finances for it. She was nominated by Karen Grant of Meadow Grove.
“Sarah Nelson Polacek has moved up the ladder in her career and brought her love of agriculture up the ladder with her,” according to her nomination form. “Sarah and her young family of three children, along with her husband, Jeremy, raise chickens and ducks. Sarah does the embryology program, bringing incubators and eggs to local schools, early education centers, daycares and nursing homes.
The hatched chickens then go to cooperating families; however, the chickens may end up going home with Sarah if there are no available families. She also has been known to go to the farm store to buy chicks because the eggs never got fertilized properly and so no eggs hatched. Try to explain that to children,” according to her nomination.
Nelson Polacek organized the ag literacy program that began 21 years ago in Madison County. Her family provides chickens and ducks as well as a bottle calf so that around 400 school children in second through fourth grades can learn about farm life. Familiarly known as Life on the Farm, the program teaches students about all aspects of agriculture.
She dedicates much time and effort into finding new aspects of agriculture to keep the program fresh year after year. During the COVID shutdown, she traveled around and recorded area farmers so the students still could learn about agriculture, even though they could not gather together. Nelson Polacek is quick to team up with local FFA chapters to help their programs succeed.
She helps coordinate the FFA kids presenting the 14 breakout sessions at Life on the Farm. The FFA kids learn public speaking and how to prepare the presentation for the young children. The FFA members also learn more information about the species to ensure they can answer the difficult questions the children ask.
The passion she has for the 4-H kids learning about animals is evident. She does everything possible to support the 4-H youths, including helping horse exhibitors complete their level testing to be able to show horses, training livestock and small animal exhibitors in Youth for the Quality Care of Animals. One program started numerous years ago in Madison County allows a pig farmer to share pigs with 4-H youths, so they have the opportunity to show a pig at the county fair.
She knows the education these youths are receiving by taking part in this program and has been an avid promoter. “We are so fortunate to have Sarah in the agriculture field as she promotes and educates many aspects of agriculture with kids and adults alike. Sarah's occupation allows her to associate with many people of many walks of life, and her passion for agriculture comes across in every conversation she has the opportunity.
She makes sure people understand the who, what, where and why of how farmers and ranchers operate,” her nomination stated. “Sarah is busy assuring her own children learn live a life of agriculture, as well as educating the hundreds of children she visits with throughout the year through after school programs, library reading programs, summer programs, as well as the 4-H program. She lives it, she practices it, and she promotes it,” according to her nomination.
The opening session on Friday morning also featured a keynote speaker who has faced much adversity in her life yet continues to move forward. Brooke Clay Taylor of Oklahoma was building a career while building her family until she was struck with a breast cancer diagnosis six hours before welcoming her baby into the world. As Clay Taylor fought a second round of cancer, she created the Rural Gone Urban Foundation to support brave, strong women who need people in their corner.
She shared her inspiring message with wit, humor and her video. * * * Want to learn more? To learn more about the conference, visit northeast.edu/events/agceptional .
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