Ken Hesser
Cornhusker PF and Husker Covey QF
December - 2008

| | When you ask PF and QF life member Ken Hesser what is his number one passion, he would tell you Youth Education and improving the outdoors for the next generation. It only makes sense considering Ken taught High school math and science for 16 years before retiring and starting his American Family Insurance Agency in 1986. His passion for teaching and mentoring youth did not stop after he retired; in 2006 he took that passion to Norris High School in Hickman and Doug Malone, the Ag teacher and FFA advisor at Norris. His idea was to return 65 acres of pastureland behind the school back into native prairie grasses. The school, Doug Malone, and the 89 FFA members embraced the idea. Ken used his networking talents to bring in partners such as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, The University of Nebraska, Pheasants Forever, and Quail Forever. He also utilized the help of a Kansas seed company to reduce the price and cost share the remaining balance to plant a mixture of 12 different grasses and 40 forbs which will create a truly diverse plant community.
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The two year projects end result has been impressive. Not only did the students learn what is beneficial for upland wildlife habitat to survive and thrive, the Norris FFA Team was named Model of Innovation winner in community development at the 81st National FFA Convention this past month. When asked why he was so passionate about this, Ken said, "the seeds planted in their minds is far more important than the seeds planted in the ground."
Ken has been a member of Lincolns Cornhusker PF chapter for 20 plus years and a member of Husker Covey QF chapter in Lincoln since its start. He has held the Habitat and membership chairs in both Chapters and it goes without saying has had a tremendous impact on the education of our youth, for that Ken is our Hero of the Month.

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