Students and advisors from York High School presented an overview of their Career and Technical Education offerings and recent facility developments to the Nebraska State Board of Education on Feb. 7 as part of Career and Technical Education Recognition Month.

Reese Hirschfeld, president of York FFA, and other student officers described a program that enrolls middle- and high-school students in a wide range of agricultural classes and supervised agricultural experiences. Students said York’s program offers dual-credit courses through Southeast Community College and York College and that the welding program now includes 20 welding booths supporting processes such as GTAW, SMAW and GMAW. Students reported enrollment by course for the 2024–25 year (examples given in presentation): 170 in animal science, 96 in welding, 95 in introductory agriculture and hundreds more in related industrial-tech courses.

The students highlighted a greenhouse operation that produces thousands of plants annually and an animal science lab that hosts more than 100 species and has become a site for school tours and statewide visits. They also told the board that the York Public Schools Foundation purchased the three-building, four-acre Corteva Research Center, which the students said will become a dedicated agricultural education campus.

Board members praised the program. Board member Kirk Penner asked whether local employers, including a company named Kluge, helped drive the expansion of the welding program; presenters said the growth reflected countywide demand from local welding industries. Board members also commended the program’s inclusion of students with special needs and its community service projects.

No formal action was taken; the presentation served as recognition and an informational briefing during CTE month.