Keya Paha County Schools

Day 2 at the Nebraska State FFA was proven to be a very successful day for the Keya Paha FFA! We are excited to announce 📣 that Kit Painter and Angela Frick received 1st place with their proficiencies and advancing to NATIONALS! We are also excited to announce 📣 Wyatt Fowler has made top 10 in GTAW welding. Welding awards will be announced at 3pm on Friday. https://neaged.org/ Kit was also recognized as a Nebraska FFA Foundation True Blue Tour Testimony participant. Our chapter was also recognized for our participation in the Nebraska Farm Bureau Connecting Chapters participant.

State FFA Convention Day 1 completed with State Degrees and an early morning state with the welding team welding in the largest welding facilities in the country.

Congratulation to this 25/26 Winter NCPA Academic All-State Award Winners

Speech-Bailey Kaufman & Courtnie Krueger
Girls Basketball - Karlene Kepler & Kit Painter
Boys Basketball - Trey Anthony & Carter Buell
Girls Wrestling - Myley Hoffman & Paisley Hoffman
Boys Wrestling - Zach Wiebelhaus & Kade Wiiest

✨ "The future belongs to those that believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt

We are so excited to bring that spirit to life for our students! Rock County Public Schools and Keya Paha Public Schools, with the generous support of the Keya Paha County Foundation and Rock County Foundation, are proud to welcome Timmy the Dreamer to Bassett on Monday, April 13th.

We can't wait for our 7th-12th grade students to be part of this inspiring experience. 🌟

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OikT4uOSGx8&t=461s

News Flash!!! Grades K-6 will be participating in a track & field day in Bassett on Friday, May 1st starting at 1 pm. Come watch your student participate in field events like long jump, the softball throw, shot put, and dashes! Students will eat lunch at school and then ride the bus to Bassett for all the friendly fun & competition. We can't wait to see you there cheering them on!

We will still have our KPCS Field Day. Stay tuned for those details!

🌟 Senior Spotlight --Angela Frick🌟

🎓 Future Plans
After graduation, I plan to attend Northeast Community College and major in Veterinary Technology. Following college, I hope to work alongside a rural veterinarian and continue pursuing my passion for animal care.

🐄 Childhood Dream
When I was little, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and a rancher.

😂 Favorite High School Memory
My favorite high school memory was during state cross country my junior year—when Zoey and I managed to lock ourselves out of our hotel room within five minutes of arriving!

❤️ Most Valued Possession
My cows are my most valued possession.

Ainsworth Junior High Track Invitational Information for Tuesday March 31st

We are proud to recognize our KPCS FFA members for their state-level achievements:

State Degrees:
Thomas Carr, Angela Frick, Kit Painter, Mason Schubauer

Proficiency Awards:
Angela Frick – Dairy Production Entrepreneurship Finalist
Kit Painter – Beef Production Entrepreneurship; Diversified Livestock; Equine Science Finalist
Nate Frick – Swine Production Entrepreneurship

Welding Team:
Angela Frick (OA), Wyatt Fowler (GTAW), Kassie Schrader (GTAW), Mason Schubauer (GMAW), Kit Painter (SMAW)

Congratulations to all our qualifiers!

2026 AINSWORTH INVITATIONAL (High School)

TEAMS: Ainsworth, Burwell, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, North Central, O’Neill, Summerland, Valentine, and West Holt

MEET DATE: Friday, March 27th, 2026 @ 12:00 PM
MEET SITE: East City Park, located on the east side of Ainsworth.

🏃‍♂️‍➡️ North Central Knights Track and Field @ UNK 🏃‍♀️
📍 University of Kearney
📅 Thursday, March 19, 2026
⏰ Start Time 11:00 for Running and Field Events
🎟️ Tickets - https://lopers.com/sports/2021/7/14/hometown-ticket-website.aspx
⏱️ Timing - https://lopertiming.com/
ℹ️ Meet Info - https://lopers.com/sports/2010/3/11/MXC_0311100309.aspx

Congratulations to these North Central Basketball Players for receiving NVC All Conference Honors:

1st Team All Conference: Mya Lewis and Karlene Kepler

2nd Team All Conference: Reece Taylor and Keian Fischer

Honorable-Mention: Kit Painter, Collin Hagan, and Brandt LeZotte

State Speech Schedule in Kearney for Class D2 on Saturday March 28th

JH Strawberries have arrived and will be available for pick up from 3:30pm-5pm today, March 18th in the KPCS multipurpose room.

The speech team traveled to Stuart for district speech. The top 3 places qualify for state in each event. All 3 girls punched their ticket to state. Courtnie placed 2nd in informative. Bailey was the district champion for the second year in a row placing 1st in poetry. Zoey placed 3rd in serious and 4th in humorous. KP placed 4th as a team. All girls will compete at State speech in Kearney next week. Congratulations!

UNK Track Invitational Information for Thursday March 19th.

Public Admission – Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students (13 and under free). All ticket sales will
be online. https://lopers.com/sports/2021/7/14/hometown-ticket-website.aspx

https://ncjhtrackapparelstore.itemorder.com/shop/home/ Please order your JH Track apparel using the above site.

https://northcentraltrackapparel2026.itemorder.com/shop/home/ Please order your NC Track apparel thru the site listed above.

Hopefully, the last JH Strawberry Change! We received word that strawberries are arriving later in the day on March 17th, so pick-up will be from 3:30pm-5pm. Thank you to everyone for helping us and being flexible as we navigate Mother Nature.