The Nebraska Ag Expo is excited to present its fifth annual Career Exploration Event — returning December 9-11, 2025 — inviting middle school, high school, and college students to experience the wide range of rewarding careers available in agriculture and the equipment dealer industry. More than 450 students from across the state are expected to participate this year.
Today’s equipment dealerships offer strong career paths — competitive wages, excellent benefits, tuition reimbursement, scholarships, apprenticeships, hands-on learning, and access to cutting-edge ag technology. The Career Exploration Event is designed to spark interest, expand awareness, and help students consider future careers in this dynamic industry.
“Our goal is to continue cultivating real enthusiasm for agriculture and support the next generation of talent,” said Mark Hennessey, president/CEO of the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA), owner/manager of the Nebraska Ag Expo. “This event gives students the chance to interact directly with dealers, industry leaders, and technology innovators — and truly see what career success can look like in this field.”
Students will explore the Expo floor with dealership employees from their own communities — enabling conversations that directly tie to their region, their hometown, and their career interests.
During this structured tour, students will visit major manufacturer displays, check out the newest advancements in ag equipment, learn about Nebraska’s high-value two-year programs (paired with tuition reimbursement), and discover how to access up to $3,000 toward their training.
The industry’s workforce need is real — Nebraska equipment dealers currently face 350–400 open positions, a number projected to more than double within the next five years due to retirements and growth.
INEDA continues to lead on workforce development solutions — including through the Career Exploration Event and the Andrew Goodman Scholarship Program — helping students connect their interest in agriculture to real career opportunities.
In 2025-2026 alone, $100,000 in scholarships was awarded to 68 students across Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, and Wyoming who are pursuing careers within member dealerships in Iowa and Nebraska.Know a student who may be interested?
Contact Phil Erdman at phile@ineda.com or 402.429.5726 — we’ll introduce them to dealers in their area and help get them started.