IYRP selected as 2026 Ag Communications theme
September 24, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. – The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) has been selected as the theme for the 2026 Nebraska FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event (CDE), inviting high school students across the state to tell the story of Nebraska’s grasslands and the people who care for them.
The contest scenario challenges teams to act as communications consultants for the Nebraska Society for Range Management, promoting the IYRP campaign at a local, regional, or statewide level. Students may focus their projects on topics such as the economic and ecological importance of rangelands, youth and community engagement, biodiversity, Indigenous and local knowledge, climate change, or innovative grazing and conservation practices.
Participants will develop a full communication plan that includes writing, design, broadcast, and social media components. To support the theme, Nebraska’s grassland community is providing a shared library of photo, video, and audio assets, along with a list of rangeland professionals available to mentor student teams.
Key Dates and Deadlines:
Registration: December 1, 2025 – January 9, 2026
Pre-Qualifying Round (via Zoom): January 21 or 22
Top 10 Teams Announced: January 30
Final Communication Plans Due: March 6
State Finals Presentation: March 25, 2026, in Lincoln
The Agricultural Communications CDE tests students’ abilities to plan and deliver professional-quality communication strategies addressing real-world agricultural issues.
“It’s inspiring to see Nebraska’s young communicators using their voices to celebrate rangelands,” said Laura Nelson, statewide grassland coordinator. “This generation will play a key role in shaping how our society values and sustains the landscapes that feed and support us all.”
Full contest details, rules, and study materials are available at https://agedcde.unl.edu/cde-information/events/ag-communications/.
Learn more about Nebraska’s celebration of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists at nebraskasgrasslands.org/IYRP.
