Nex-Tech and CoBank Donate $30,000 to Youth Development in Kansas

Nex-Tech and CoBank Donate $30,000 to Youth Development in Kansas

As part of CoBank’s Sharing Success program, Nex-Tech donates $30,000 to support youth in northwest Kansas

Lenora, Kan. — March 31, 2026 — Nex-Tech has teamed up with CoBank to support the youth in northwest Kansas with the total sum of $30,000. Nex-Tech participated in CoBank’s Sharing Success program by committing the sum of $15,000 which was generously matched by Co-Bank – a cooperative bank that provides specialized credit and financial services to the ag, power, water, and telecommunications industries. The funds will enhance the youth development efforts of two Kansas institutions: Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth Inc., and Fort Hays Tech | North Central.

Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth Inc. is a non-profit that supports Kansas youth through paid internships, career exploration, and educational programs aimed at connecting students with local careers to build rural Kansas economies. Nex-Tech and CoBank each donated $10,000 in matching funds, totaling $20,000. Jannette Meis, Executive Director of Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, acknowledged the donation by saying, “This matching investment from CoBank and Nex-Tech sends a powerful message to our rural communities. Their support allows us to expand hands-on career experiences, strengthen workforce pathways, and ensure young people across western and north central Kansas have access to meaningful, paid opportunities that prepare them to lead and succeed right here at home.”

Additionally, Nex-Tech and Co-Bank donated $5,000 in matching funds to Fort Hays Tech | North Central (FHTNC), totaling $10,000. This contribution will bolster the efforts of (FHTNC) in preparing the next generation of rural technical professionals. Known for its high graduation and job placement rates, FHTNC is a fully accredited, public technical college in Kansas with campuses in Beloit and Hays, KS. It offers 20+ hands-on technical programs (e.g., nursing, construction, HVAC) focusing on workforce development and high-demand careers, operating through an affiliation with Fort Hays State University. Since 2021, Nex-Tech has partnered with Fort Hays Tech | North Central by reviving the college’s Telecommunications Program and implementing a Technology Education Sponsorship Program where we fully-fund the tuition of select students and provide them with guaranteed employment after graduation. “We are incredibly grateful to Nex-Tech for their generous support of the Hansen Construction Career Center at Fort Hays Tech | North Central, and to CoBank for matching their gift,” said Eric Burks, President of Fort Hays Tech | North Central. “Together, they are helping us build more than a facility; they are helping us build futures. We greatly appreciate their belief in our students and in the vital role skilled professionals play in strengthening our region”, Eric added.

Jimmy Todd, CEO and General Manager of Nex-Tech, thanked both institutions for their tireless efforts to invest in the youth. Jimmy said “At Nex-Tech, we are always happy to play a small part in what is indeed a big effort by many stakeholders across northwest Kansas. These two organizations are at the forefront of youth development in Kansas, and we are proud of their efforts.”

For more information about CoBank’s Sharing Success program, visit https://www.cobank.com/web/cobank/citizenship/corporate-giving/sharing-success.

To learn more about Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc. and their programs, visit https://www.nex-generation.org/.

To learn more about Fort Hays Tech | North Central, visit https://www.fhtechnc.edu/.