The 2018 Nebraska Envirothon State Championship team hails from Concordia High School. This is the school's sixth consecutive win at the state competition. Concordia High School Team 1 is now preparing for the National Conservation Foundation’s Envirothon competition in Pocatello, Idaho, July 22-28.

The state contest was held at Niobrara State Park in Niobrara, Neb., in April.

Concordia High School Team 1 took first place in Oral Presentations, Forestry and Policy. West Holt placed first in Range. Arapahoe High and Concordia High Team 7 tied for first in Soils. Concordia Team 7 and Sidney High tied for first place in Aquatics. Aurora High took first place in Wildlife.

Members of the first-place team from Concordia High School in Omaha include Bridget Backer, Abby Sharp, Peyton Cole, Mac Torosian, and Blake Hawkins. Their coach is Mike Ellis, a science teacher at Concordia High School. The state runner-up team is Southern Valley High School from Southern Valley. Arapahoe High School from Arapahoe took third place.

Bischoff named IANR associate vice chancellor

On May 15 Richard Bischoff assumed duties as associate vice chancellor for faculty and academic leader success in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

As associate vice chancellor, Bischoff will focus on faculty and academic leader development and success. He will lead unit strategic planning, oversee academic program reviews, and serve as a liaison with the university's office of academic affairs associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs. Bischoff will also provide oversight of the Nebraska LEAD program and serve as IANR's chief diversity officer.

Bischoff holds a bachelor's degree in family relations from Weber State College, a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Auburn University, and a doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Purdue University. He came to Nebraska as a faculty member in 1998.

UNL students serve as NCGA summer interns

As the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's spring semester winds down, seven students will start summer National Corn Growers Association internship programs supported by the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

Five of the seven summer interns will be based outside of the state and will work for major cooperators of Nebraska Corn. The remaining interns will work in Lincoln in the offices of the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

This year's Nebraska Corn interns (followed by internship locations) are Liz Ruskamp, National Corn Growers Association, St. Louis; Elizabeth Todsen, National Corn Growers Association, Washington, D.C.; Halle Ramsey, U.S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C.; Alyssa Ehler, U.S. Grains Council, Mexico City; Hannah Settje, U.S. Meat Export Federation, Denver; Thomas Hoxmeier, Nebraska Corn Board, Lincoln; and Heidi Borg, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Lincoln.

Arens receives State Foresters Award

Nebraska Farmer field editor Curt Arens of Crofton recently received the Nebraska State Foresters Award. According to district forester, Steve Rasmussen, Arens received the award for his regular Farmstead Forest columns and for his coverage of agroforestry and rural forestry issues for Nebraska Farmer and Farm Progress. Curt also supports local Arbor Day programs and his local arboretum in Crofton.