Westra joined UNL in 2017 as Deputy Director of the South East Studies and Extension District. Since then, he has held various roles, including program leader for his two interdisciplinary teams and professor of agricultural economics. In these roles, Westra was able to see firsthand the importance of college facilities and offices statewide.

“The Research, Extension and Education Center plays an important role in the IANR’s mission to conduct research related to the needs, concerns and issues of the state’s farmers, ranchers and community members,” Westra said. increase. “We have faculty who are primarily focused on the agricultural sector. People who work in 4-H and Rural Prosperity Nebraska, as well as in active youth development, food, nutrition, health and other program areas. There are people, and each of our facilities plays an important role in helping conduct that research as well as delivering that research through our expansion program.”

The Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center (PREEC) is home to 13 IANR faculty members from a wide range of disciplines, most of whom are jointly appointed to research and extension. With others near North Platte and Ithaca, he is one of three research, extension and education centers in the state.

In addition to research and extension appointments, PREC faculty and staff are also engaging Scottsbluff and the surrounding area in new ways. For example, we work with local school districts to expose K-12 students to the concepts of agriculture and natural resources. They work directly with farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to test new agricultural tools, techniques and management practices. We also work with stakeholders and others to ensure the center meets local and state needs.

“Nebraska’s Center for Research, Extension and Education has long been and will continue to be important to the IANR’s three missions of education, research and extension,” said Dean of IANR’s Agricultural Research Division. Yes, Ag Labs said. “Dr. Westra is an experienced leader and I have no doubts he will do an excellent job of serving the Panhandle and ushering this important facility into a new era of success.”

Prior to joining UNL, he was J. Nelson Fairbanks Professor at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he was a faculty member in LSU’s Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Division for over 15 years. His own research focuses on production, natural resources and environmental economics related to the agricultural sector.

Mitchell Stevenson, an associate professor of agriculture and horticulture who has served as interim director of the center since March, will serve as deputy director of the center.

Learn more about the center at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/panhandle/.