Dan Stehlik awarded Honorary Nebraska State FFA Degree
Dan Stehlik, agricultural mechanics instructor at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA), was awarded the Honorary Nebraska State FFA Degree during the Nebraska FFA State Convention in Lincoln, recognizing his decades of dedication to agricultural education, student mentorship, and career development.
The Honorary State FFA Degree is among the organization’s highest honors, recognizing individuals who have significant contributions to agricultural education and the success of FFA members statewide.
For Stehlik, the recognition is especially meaningful.
“FFA has always been about more than contests or classrooms. It’s about building confidence, work ethic, and real skills that last a lifetime,” Stehlik said. “To be included among Nebraska’s State Degree recipients is truly humbling. It’s an honor to support students who represent the very best of agriculture.”
Stehlik’s career spans 33 years of teaching, with 11 at NCTA, 19 in Kansas high schools, and 3 in Nebraska high schools. His NCTA courses include welding, electricity, irrigation technology, small engines, industrial safety, and equipment maintenance. Stehlik’s teaching philosophy reflects the college’s hands-on, industry-connected approach, where students don’t just observe, they do.
That philosophy extends across Nebraska through his leadership in agricultural mechanics FFA Career Development Events (CDEs). Known for setting high expectations with an encouraging tone, Stehlik recently reminded student competitors to come prepared with safety gear, tools, and even “a smile,” adding humorously that he would bring a first-aid kit “for the student who cuts themselves not following directions.”
His impact is also seen through outreach efforts that bring high school students to campus for immersive, hands-on experiences. Visiting students have engaged in small-engine labs, electrical wiring exercises, and precision measurement activities, gaining firsthand exposure to agricultural mechanics careers while building confidence and skills.
Jennifer McConville, associate dean at NCTA, said Stehlik’s influence is felt well beyond the classroom.
“Dan represents what we value at NCTA, students learning through real experience,” McConville said. “His commitment to hands-on instruction and his connection to FFA programs across Nebraska make a lasting impact. This recognition is incredibly well deserved.”
Kelly Bruns, interim executive director of NCTA, added that Stehlik’s leadership continues to shape the industry's future.
“Dan has dedicated his career to preparing skilled professionals for agriculture,” Bruns said. “Through teaching, mentorship, and his work with FFA, he has influenced countless students. We are proud to see him honored at this level.”
>From statewide competitions to campus labs, Stehlik continues to invest in the next generation, reinforcing lessons that students will carry throughout their careers and lives!
Mr. Stehlik invites students from all backgrounds who are interested in careers related to agricultural mechanics, welding, irrigation technology, and ag teaching to reach out anytime. Find his contact information at https://ncta.unl.edu/person/dan-stehlik/