08/28/2026
Meet Shelly Kubicek, our August feature in celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
After spending 15 years teaching English, coaching students, and leading youth programs, Shelly Kubicek found her way back to where her roots began: agricultural education.
A Nebraska native and former Nebraska State FFA Officer, Shelly's career took her from classrooms in Arizona to roles in Nebraska education and Extension. While she loved working with students, she missed the connection to agriculture that had shaped her own upbringing. That passion eventually led her back to the agricultural classroom.
"I always loved certain aspects of what I was doing," Shelly said. "But with Aquinas FFA and these kids, I just feel like this is where I belong."
In 2023, Shelly joined Aquinas Catholic Schools in David City to build a brand-new agricultural education and FFA program from the ground up. What started as an empty classroom and a vision has quickly grown into a thriving program where students are discovering leadership opportunities, competing at the state level, and exploring careers in agriculture.
For Shelly, the greatest reward isn't the awards or accolades. It's watching students discover confidence in themselves. Whether it's a student giving their first speech in the classroom or winning their first award on stage at state convention, she finds joy in helping young people realize opportunities they never thought possible. She believes the greatest growth happens when students are willing to try something new.
"I tell my students all the time: it's progress over perfection," Shelly said. "Just try it. Just learn. You never know where that opportunity is going to take you."
Along the way, Frontier Cooperative has been proud to support Aquinas FFA through classroom visits, leadership development opportunities, contest preparation, and community involvement.
Thank you, Shelly, for your dedication to agricultural education and for inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders through your passion, service, and commitment to helping students succeed.