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Engler program marks 15 years of building Nebraska entrepreneurs

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Engler program marks 15 years of building Nebraska entrepreneurs

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Engler program celebrates 15 years of building people who build Nebraska

Engler program celebrates 15 years of building people who build Nebraska

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University of Nebraska Lincoln

What happens when students are given the confidence to pursue an idea, the resources to test it and the freedom to learn by doing?

For 15 years, the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has helped students answer that question by equipping them to build businesses, create opportunities and strengthen the communities they call home.

The program’s newly released 15-year impact report captures the results: more than 200 ventures launched, more than $83 million in gross revenue generated by alumni-owned businesses in 2025, and 213 jobs supported.

“For 15 years, students in the Engler program have drawn on passion, creativity, innovation and hard work to pursue opportunities and build businesses,” said Tiffany Heng-Moss, Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Nebraska system.

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“But the impact of Engler extends far beyond the companies it helps launch. Through a culture that encourages students to dream big, take risks and embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, Engler has shaped leaders, innovators and community builders who are making a difference across Nebraska and beyond. We are proud of this legacy and excited for what the next 15 years will bring.”

At Engler, learning extends beyond traditional lectures and coursework into real-world experiences where students test ideas, work with customers, learn from setbacks and discover what it takes to build something of their own. Through coaching, mentorship and a community that encourages experimentation, students gain both the support to take risks and the freedom to learn by doing.

Programs like Summer Build bring Engler’s hands-on approach to life, investing $5,000 in students to accelerate their ventures rather than pursue traditional summer internships. The 2025 cohort generated $178,300 in gross revenue, while the 2026 cohort surpassed $300,000. Even students who do not receive funding continue to participate. Engler extends this entrepreneurial learning to younger students through partnerships with the Nebraska FFA Association and Nebraska FFA Foundation, guiding select FFA chapters in turning ideas into school-based enterprises.

These experiences demonstrate what the numbers alone cannot capture: the confidence to take the first step, the resilience to keep going and the ability to see opportunity where others might not.

“My Engler experience has given me the confidence to chase after my dreams and live my life to its fullest,” said Ashley Bonifas, a junior agribusiness major. “It has encouraged me to think bigger, take risks and take advantage of the opportunities available to me. Engler has reinforced my belief that I can build a career in agriculture, make a meaningful impact in a rural community and create a future that reflects my passions, strengths and values.”

That mindset has helped build a network of entrepreneurs across Nebraska and beyond. Today, 83% of Engler alumni live in Nebraska, and 91% of Engler students from rural Nebraska say they plan to live or work in the state after graduation. Among alumni, 93% say Engler increased their confidence to start a business in a rural or small-town community, while 90% say their Engler experience made them more likely to become an employer.

My Engler experience has given me the confidence to chase after my dreams and live my life to its fullest.

Ashley Bonifas

junior agribusiness major

The impact of Engler entrepreneurs across Nebraska spans a wide range of industries and communities, demonstrating the many forms entrepreneurship can take. While 60% of Engler alumni entrepreneurs founded their companies solo, others have expanded their entrepreneurial success by taking over established businesses in rural communities. Examples include Brandon Nichols, who took over Don’s Service in Bridgeport, Nebraska, an essential waste management service, and Vickie Ference, who acquired Grateful Adventures in Ord, Nebraska, an event decorations business.

Engler entrepreneurs are making their mark in communities across Nebraska. Brody Benson founded SandBox Media, a broadcast and media company headquartered in Valentine, while Elijah Riley founded Big Gumdrop Outdoors, a nonprofit dedicated to educating urban youth about nature, in Lincoln. In Callaway, Katrina Robertson founded Brewing Blooms, a wedding and event floral business. In Pender, Logan Peters and Alex Heine partnered to build North 40 Beef, an American Wagyu beef company that was recently named the 2026 best wagyu steak in America by the American Wagyu Association.

The reach of Engler entrepreneurship extends well beyond Nebraska, too. Alumni have launched businesses in several other states, including Montana, Kentucky and Washington, D.C., across a diverse range of industries, from construction and floral services to consulting and agricultural businesses. Together, these entrepreneurs highlight the broad reach of the Engler program and the lasting impact its alumni are making in communities across the country.

The report also reveals a deeper measure of impact: how students see their futures. Ninety-six percent of students say Engler provides a supportive environment to take big risks, while 91% say the program changed how they see their future.

“Business ownership was never a path I considered before college,” said Caleb Most, a senior agricultural leadership, education and communication major. “But now, thanks to Engler, it’s hard for me to imagine a future where I don’t own a business at some point.”

Before students can build a business, they must learn to trust their ideas, adapt when things do not go as planned and recognize their ability to create something of their own. That is the foundation beneath every venture launched, every job created and every community strengthened.

As Engler looks toward its next 15 years, students are continuing to test ideas, alumni are growing businesses, and young people across Nebraska are discovering entrepreneurship as a pathway to shape their futures.

This content is sourced from University of Nebraska Lincoln . It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.

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