Friends and Neighbors: The Lukassens

The interest, involvement and passion shown for FFA, is a generational for Doug and Sandy Lukassen.

The Lukassens have been married for 33 years now, and met at a State FFA Convention, as Sandy's good friend in high school and Doug's good friend in high school – were brother and sister (also involved in FFA)– and introduced the two.

The couple were both involved in FFA during their four years in high school, as well as their fathers before them; Doug Elrod and Wayne Lukassen.

Sandy explained that for their fathers – the organization was more "Ag production" based, and only included male members during those years."

"When Doug and I were in the FFA Chapter in the late 70s and early 80s," shared Sandy, "young women were becoming members of the FFA."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lukassen served as officers in the Kimball Chapter while in high school – and Sandy had the honor to be the first female president elected to the Kimball FFA Chapter.

"We truly believe that FFA is a great program teaching leadership skills," said Lukassen,

"The skills that everyone learns throughout AG Education and FFA are life long skills."

"Most anyone who has participated (in FFA) will tell you how much they grew by learning communications, management, and organizational skills. To be able speak to a group of people is a wonderful skill to have acquired."

The couple have raised three children, Ashley (Sutton), Amanda (Culek) and Ryan Lukassen --who were also involved in the Kimball FFA organization.

The couple's youngest, Ryan, is still involved in the Kimball FFA Chapter when he is needed and when it is possible for him to do so – and the Lukassen's shared that Ryan's favorite event is the progress show which the FFA Alumni hosts annually during Father's Day weekend.

Ryan also is involved each August during the Kimball/Banner County Fair.

The couple's oldest daughter, Ashley, is still currently involved in Ag based organizations in Colorado and youngest daughter, Amanda, is always willing to help mom and dad when needed. Ashley stays involved in the local county fair each year.

"Our family believes very strongly what great youth programs we have in 4-H and FFA," Sandy said.

The Kimball Chapter of FFA has had several State FFA Officers, as well as State and American Degree recipients.

Within the Lukassen family, both Doug and Sandy, along with their son, Ryan, have all received and held a State FFA Degree, as well as, the American FFA Degree.

The couple is still very active with the Kimball FFA Alumni and all of their activities, and said as alumni members they are always willing to help whenever the chapter members, or the Ag Ed Instructor, (currently Sally Wheeler) asks them to.

Lukassen noted that the Kimball Chapter of the alumni was the very first chartered Alumni in the State of Nebraska.

"We have a large base of life members," shared Sandy. "Our alumni is so strong because our members are always willing to step up and lend a hand whenever they are called."

She also offered that the group is always looking for more active members and that it is not required to having been a former member of the FFA organization. Currently, Sandy holds the office of treasurer for the Kimball Alumni Chapter.

Their hope for the Kimball FFA Chapter going forward? That it will remain strong in the Kimball community.

"We have had a great history here with tremendous Ag Educators," said Sandy, "the school superintendents and school boards throughout the years have been very supportive. We need to keep working on getting more kids involved."

Lukassen said FFA has seen so many changes and all for the betterment of the organization.

"There is something for every type of person within the FFA. It is no longer just production Ag. Students can have SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) projects from landscaping, to babysitting, to photography, to aquatics, as well as production Ag. The opportunities are endless," said Lukassen.

"It also offers so many opportunities to attend leadership workshops, CDE contests, as well as state and national conventions and conferences."

Just recently, Doug was elected to the Nebraska State Fair Board and has served on the Kimball County Ag Society board for 17 years now. As a member on the Ag Society board, Lukassen serves as president.

"I am very proud of Doug for being elected to the Nebraska State Fair Board," said Sandy of Doug's accomplishment, "I appreciate the fact that he is willing to go to seminars and conventions to learn about the challenges our Ag industry is facing."

"By being on a state board he will be able to help lead Nebraska to even better things in the future. All the networking and learning from others from across our state and country will help us to continue to do great things in Kimball County with our 4-H and FFA Programs," she said.

Doug offered that he attributes his desire to stay involved from being an FFA member.

"Many graduates will tell you that through FFA they learned how to be proud of what you do and who you are," said Sandy, "a well dressed individual with a firm handshake has gotten many FFA members future jobs. Being part of the FFA and alumni gives us a strong voice for the future of agriculture."

"We must be our own ag advocates to tell our stories. Public perception is not always favorable to the ag industry." She said.

"As FFA and alumni members, it is our job to tell people how passionate we are about the Ag industry." Lukassen said. "We need to give people more accurate knowledge of ag information than all the misconceptions and untruths that are being told from uninformed sources."