Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 2026-03-02

Board of Director’s BOD Zoom Meeting

Monday March 2, 2026---7:00 p.m.

Roll Call:  Simeon Mosel, Rick Schuchardt, Jacob Passyka, Andrew Textley, Matt Adams, Karen Ostry.  Kim Mosel not in attendance.

Meeting was called to order by President, Simeon.  Minutes were sent and viewed by all board members and Program Administrator.  Rick made a motion to accept the minutes and Jacob seconded it.  All were in favor.  There was no treasurer’s report.

Old Business:  Board Members discussed producing a video on the weather.  Our website increased its fee from $432.00 to $846.00.  AI website work is available.  Rick made a motion to hire Phillip Schuchardt to train Kim Mosel, Program Administrator to upload videos to OCIA Nebraska website and YouTube.  Matt seconded it and all were in favor.

AGMM Delegate report:  Proper procedure was the subject, then the debating chapters that are virtual or in person.  There is worry that virtual chapters will draw members from real people chapters.  It was mentioned to charge the same fee for virtual chapters as for real live chapters.  Keep the incentive to join real people chapters.  Matt is on the board of the International OCIA and he will keep us informed on the chapter subject.

Newsletter to be announced.

Banner for booth in the works.  Staples has 6 ft self-standing banners for over $500.00 with printing on both sides.

Matt related the UNL Soil Health Conference in Auburn which has about 3 dozen people and one showing interest in organic farming.  Hastings had a 100+ people at a country club.  Not too many people came to the booth.  Andrew shared that the Gateway Ag Expo had 2 people sign up at the booth which was in a small building and didn’t receive much traffic.  Jacob reported that Lincoln Ag expo doesn’t have too many people on the last day and Matt said that not many people stop to look at the booth.

Rick put together a paper about the difference between organic, sustainable, and regenerative farming have on the soil.

New Business:  Video Plan is to make 5-6 videos for our website with TOPP money to encourage farmers to look into organic farming.

Annual Farm Tours:  Matt volunteered to a farm tour this year.  He will be working with a Biochar workshop (burning wood presentation) on his farm in the late summer or early fall. Kim will do a notice of the tour.

Annual Meeting Plans:  Location summary was sent out discussing the driving radius for organic farmers traveling to annual meeting.  Norfolk or Kearney being in the most densely populated organic farmers.

Three scholarship student’s bios were sent to BOD members to vote for two students to receive $500.00 scholarships.  Send your votes to Kim Mosel and she’ll contact the students who won. The students are Gretchen Anthony, Elizabeth Fetty, & Carson Reiman.

New sponsor request from Labudde Group.  They are an organic grain buying group with plans for a local set up in Nebraska in 2027.  Terra Transitional Solutions could sponsor our chapter, too.  They are OMRI approved and it’s sold by Clint Weyhrich.

Membership List needs a new column to show who served on the BOD to help the members in choosing new board members.  Rick also said we need to show its members and potential members the value this chapter provides through the fees when they join.  There are different fee schedules with other chapters.

Jacob made a motion to donate $200.00 to the Dan Gillispie Fund and a $100.00 to the Marbleseed Company.  Simeon seconded it and all approved.

Zoom meeting on Monday June 15, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.

Adjournment motion made by Rick and seconded by Matt.  All approved.

Respectfully submitted by Karen Ostry, secretary