The President's Message

Welcome to the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

In the late 1800's states throughout the nation began setting aside large blocks of land whose sole purpose was to generate income that could be used to fund institutes of higher learning in their states and communities. These "Land Grant" institutions are also commonly known as "Ag" schools due to their focus on education and research into agricultural production. Their mission was to take the farmers of America and make them "Scientific Farmers": Farmers that were educated about, trained in, and knowledgeable of the latest technologies and methodologies in agricultural production. The idea being that if our farmers had good training and good practices that agricultural production would boom, communities would grow and that the farmers themselves would enjoy better, higher, standards of living.

By almost any measure the project was a complete success and today's land grant institutions continue their mission in training tomorrow's "Scientific Farmers." Only a few of these "Farmers" will actually till the soil. Most will till, plant and harvest in fields that were unknown and unimagined when this great experiment began, but the results of a solid a careful education in the tools of today will lead to the same success that the American Farmer found in the early 1900's.

A key component of creating and educating our next generation of "Scientific Citizens" is a solid background in economic and financial literacy. Just like understanding fertilizers, watering depths, weather patterns, plows and harvesters made America's farmers the most productive in the world, understanding prices, interest rates, the rule of law, competition, finances and the forces of the marketplace are integral to our citizens and our country retaining its place in the global community.

In this respect the universities, colleges and K-12 educational systems of Nebraska are leading the way by promoting and improving economic literacy for today's students and tomorrow's workers, leaders, citizens and entrepreneurs. The Nebraska Council is proud to continue in the great heritage of land grant institutions that exist for the sole purpose of educating, enlightening and enriching the people they serve.

The programs the Council offers and the teachers the Council trains are literally providing the tools that will be required for the future leaders of our state and nation to find the success they so richly deserve. When our children are educated about, trained in, and knowledgeable of the latest technologies and methodologies in the modern marketplace production will boom, communities will grow, and our people will enjoy better, higher standards of living.

Thank you for visiting our website, please contact us if you have any questions or need any assistance.

Best regards,

Dr. Roger B. Butters, President
Nebraska Council on Economic Education