About the Helping Hand Award

• Established in 2009 to honor an outstanding agricultural instructor/FFA advisor
• Honoree receives a plaque and $500 cash award
• Anyone can nominate an instructor/advisor
• Award to be given at State FFA Convention each year

The genuine kindness of native Nebraskan Gary Scharf is imprinted on all those who knew him and have come to know him since his death in December 2007 at age 48, a victim of an Omaha mall-shooting.

Scharf’s uncommon zeal for helping others is honored by the Nebraska FFA Foundation with the “Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award.” The award, presented for the first time at the 2009 Nebraska FFA Convention, is an annual recognition of a Nebraska agricultural instructor/FFA advisor who personifies school and community citizenship and service—going above and beyond.

Gary Scharf grew up on a family farm outside of Curtis, Neb. After graduating from Medicine Valley High School, he attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics. Gary worked in the agricultural chemical industry.

He made significant contributions to Nebraska’s agricultural and FFA community through his years of service on the Nebraska FFA Foundation Board, including a year as Board president in 2002-03. Those who served with him recall that he was genuinely interested in people and always willing to help; two attributes that greatly benefited the FFA Foundation as the private fundraising arm for programs that support young men and women enrolled in Nebraska FFA programs.

Gary stayed very close to his farm roots; he had a passion for agriculture and was an avid animal lover.  He worked his entire career in agri-business and regularly went back to help on the farm.  Though his job was very demanding and required a great deal of travel, he always put family first.

The Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award is given to an agricultural instructor or FFA advisor who exemplifies the commitment, self-sacrifice and genuine kindness that defined Gary Scharf’s life.

If you know of an agricultural instructor/FFA advisor who embodies these basic ideals, please nominate them for the 2010 Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award.  Click here for the 2010 Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award application, due on March 24.

The 2009 recipient was . . . 

Steve Schmit!

Steve Schmit is an agricultural instructor and FFA Advisor at Osceola High School.  He is the first Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award Recipient, sponsored by the Nebraska FFA Foundation.  

This newly established award was presented at the Nebraska FFA Convention in early April, recognizing a Nebraska agricultural instructor/FFA advisor for what he/she has done in “helping others,” specifically in the school and community, outside of agricultural education and FFA. The Scharf Family attended the convention to see the award presented to Mr. Schmit.   

To read more about Steve Schmit and the Helping Hand Award, click here.