Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund invests in next generation soil health leaders
LINCOLN — The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund (DGSHF) continues to strengthen Nebraska agriculture through investments in youth engagement, farmer innovation and hands-on soil health education.
Over the past year, the fund has supported projects advancing regenerative agriculture, water infiltration, soil biology, biodiversity and agricultural education — helping producers, students and communities explore practical solutions that improve soil resilience, water quality and long-term farm sustainability.
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.
Among the fund’s recent investments was support for a student-led soil health research project through Battle Creek FFA.
Working alongside sixth-generation farmer Jeremy Grant, students studied the environmental and economic impacts of various farming systems, including no-till and cover cropping practices.
Their research revealed dramatically improved water infiltration in soils managed with no-till and cover crops compared to conventional tillage, helping students connect scientific research to real-world agricultural outcomes.
“This project hopes to answer the question of how soil health practices make sense not only environmentally, but economically,” Grant said. “Students are helping put measurable data behind what many producers have observed for years.”
The impact of this project extended far beyond the students involved.
In January, Battle Creek FFA members presented their findings at the No-Till on the Plains Conference, sharing their research with soil health leaders and agricultural experts from across the region.
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."
The data generated through the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund-supported project also served as the foundation for their presentation at the Nebraska FFA Agriscience Fair, where the team advanced to the national competition to be held this October.
DGSHF also partnered with Green Cover to support soil health-related projects at the Central Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair, recognizing student research at the middle and high school levels in areas such as no-till farming, water conservation and regenerative agriculture.
In addition to youth research, the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund continues to support producer-led innovation.
A recent grant to southeast Nebraska organic farmer Barry Young is helping evaluate alternative methods of establishing cereal rye cover crops during corn production to improve soil function and cropping outcomes.
“Receiving this grant will ease the burden of daring to be different,” Young said. “Repairing our soil ecosystems requires patience, thought and financial support.”
Left to right: Eli Anderson, Camden Ogden and Cade Fickes of the Battle Creek High School FFA present the results of their Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund and Nebraska Community Foundation Youth Engagement Grant-supported project at the January 2026 No-Till on the Plains Conference and the 2026 Nebraska State Agriscience Competition.
Thanks to the generosity of individual and corporate donors, including WK Kellogg Co and Cargill, the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund will increase its maximum grant award to $2,500 for the next two grant cycles, with application deadlines of Oct. 1, 2026, and March 1, 2027.
This support enables DGSHF to continue investing in the next generation of soil health leaders while advancing practical, producer-focused solutions that strengthen Nebraska agriculture, communities, and natural resources.
"We’re proud to continue our partnership with the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund and support its expanded grant program,” Sarah Ludmer, Chief Wellbeing and Sustainable business officer, WK Kellogg Co. said. “Investing in soil health and agricultural education helps create opportunities for the next generation of agricultural leaders and we're excited to see these grants helping bring new innovative ideas and learning opportunities to life."
For more information about the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund or to support its mission, visit nebcommfound.org/give/dan-gillespie-soil-health-fund.
