The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund aims to strengthen Nebraska agriculture through investments in youth engagement, farmer innovation and hands-on soil health education.
Randy Pryor, left, and Gary Lesoing, right, of the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund Advisory Committee present a $2,000 grant to southeast Nebraska organic farmer Barry Young. The grant supports Young's research evaluating alternative methods of establishing cereal rye cover crops during corn production to improve soil health, soil function and cropping outcomes.
Battle Creek High School FFA member Claire Schmidt won the Nebraska State Agriscience Competition in the Environmental Service/Natural Resource Systems category with her project, "Optimizing Nitrogen Application to Maximize Crop Yield, Economic Returns, and Soil Health." Co-funded by the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund and an anonymous donor via Nebraska Community Foundation’s Youth Engagement Grant, her research demonstrated how optimizing fertilizer application rates can maximize economic returns while promoting soil health and protecting water quality.
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The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund, in partnership with Green Cover, recognized outstanding soil health research at the 2026 Central Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair. Jay Cecrle, director of the Central Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair, left; Grace Jones of Ogallala High School, second-place recipient; Beau Bonifas of Silver Lake High School, first-place recipient; and Randy Pryor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Emeriti Extension Educator and chair of the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund Advisory Committee. The awards honored student research advancing soil health, water conservation, no-till farming and regenerative agriculture.
