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| Duane A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator |
“Deanna Karmazin has a passion for agricultural education that has guided her 16 year career thus far. From 1996-2011 Deanna served as a UNL Extension Associate in Lancaster County. During her tenure she educated countless students not only in her 4-H activities, but also in programs she developed to educate urban youth about agriculture. Since March of 2011, Deanna has served as the State Director for the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom program. This role allows her the opportunity to work together with teachers across the state to integrate agriculture literacy into their classrooms. Deanna is a member of LEAD Group XXIX. Deanna and her husband Steve are the parents of twins, Chris and Lauren.”
The second event is something that I think could be very important for Nebraska and particularly Nebraska agriculture. It is gratifying to see Deanna taking a lead in this effort. Let me first lay down a little groundwork. After nearly a year of developing the structure and components of the new Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, it is up and running. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is now a non-profit, charitable organization and has been determined as exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code allowing for tax deductions for gifts. This is a new venture and is where the second event comes into play.
Now where this becomes exciting for me is that the NFB Foundation for Agriculture board of directors, a group made up of statewide leaders in Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska agriculture, agribusiness and education recently hired Deanna as its new executive director. She has been the state director of the Agriculture in the Classroom program since 2011. Her new position will be largely responsible for the fundraising efforts of the Foundation along with outreach, networking and other development efforts. She officially took the reins of the Foundation on December 1. She is ready to roll!
I was touched by the words from NFBF President Steve Nelson as he announced the decision and I quote: “Deanna’s experience in agriculture and the non-profit and charitable sector will serve the organization well. She has a strong passion for promoting, protecting and preserving Nebraska agriculture and Nebraska Farm Bureau. Her focus of strengthening the value of agriculture in the state and passing on the agricultural legacy of our members keeps our Foundation on solid ground.” As an educator you always hope your students will develop a passion for agriculture and can have opportunities like this--- It is good to see our South Central Nebraska 4-H and FFA progeny succeed and help make a difference!
I was honored to attend the sold-out inaugural Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Fundraiser Dinner in Kearney this past week, and witnessed people involved with agriculture from all across this state step up and participate with donations, bids on live auction and silent auction items that went towards this new effort. They also received a huge boost with a donation from a former effort called the 21st Century Fund. They had a very nice start to their foundation. I also got to hear her response to her new leadership role: “I am very excited about being a part of the NFB Foundation for Agriculture. This position gives me an opportunity to work hand in hand with our supporters to create legacies that support agriculture programs they care about most, fulfilling our vision of strengthening communities and Nebraska agriculture.”
Helping protect Nebraska agriculture and the future generations of farm and ranch families will directly depend on our ability to educate children and the non-farm public about how their food is produced through modern day production practices. This is why the heart of success of the Foundation lies directly with its ability to leverage financial resources to achieve its mission which is to generate financial resources and partnerships to build awareness, understanding and a positive public perception of agriculture through education and leadership development. This is a huge step to this goal.
Financial Support for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture provides the opportunity for people interested in ag literacy and the legacy we have in agriculture to have a vehicle to help with this mission through: Outright gifts (cash, securities, real estate); Deferred or planned giving (wills and bequests, life insurance, remainder interest); Endowments; Memorial or tributes; Gifts in trust; and with annuities and annuity trusts. What I find fascinating about this thrust is that the Foundation has five pillars: Agriculture in the Classroom; Young Farmers and Ranchers Program; Ag Promotion and Education programs; Leadership Development; and of course--Scholarships and Loans. Individuals can designate which pillar they want to support. Essentially, this new Foundation is charged with streamlining and enhancing fundraising leverage for agriculture literacy in Nebraska. If anyone is interested in the new Agriculture Foundation, you can find it on the internet at: http://www.nefb.org/public/850/foundation/nebraska-farm-bureau-foundation-for-agriculture . I hope you will join me in congratulating Deanna Karmazin, and wish her the very best and good luck as she tries to navigate this new voyage in her life. Oh --- and if you have a few bucks lying around……..Ok, perhaps that was a little shameless!
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home
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