Entrepreneurship doesn’t care where you come from. It doesn’t care about your GPA, your hometown, your age, or your background. And in Nebraska, wherever you go—from a kindergarten classroom in Omaha to the wide-open rangeland near Cody—you’ll find people with a shared belief: Nobody’s coming to rescue us, so let's get to work.

That no-nonsense spirit is at the heart of the latest episode of the Building Nebraska podcast. Recorded inside the Rural Radio Network’s Lincoln studios, this special edition brings together two of the people behind the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program: Director Tom Field and Chief Creative Officer Hailey DeMers, to reflect on the stories that shaped Season One and preview the journey ahead.

A Year of Showcasing Real Entrepreneurs

Season One traveled the state to spotlight the everyday innovators who are building businesses, building communities, and building Nebraska.

Field and DeMers share how the Engler community has been behind the podcast from the start. Their mission: to highlight the untold stories of Nebraska entrepreneurs who aren’t chasing yachts or tech hype, but rather those who are creating legacy businesses that strengthen rural communities.

Inside the Engler Entrepreneurship Program

For those unfamiliar with Engler, Field breaks down the program's unique approach: helping students do entrepreneurship long before others might think they’re ready. Unlike traditional programs centered on high-growth tech, Engler focuses on purpose-driven, community-rooted businesses.

Students learn by building: from the entry-level 101 course to the famous $50 business class, where students are handed $50 to launch something real. One standout example? LS Lures launched in the Engler Garage and is now selling nationwide.

More than 90% of Engler alumni stay in Nebraska or return to their rural roots—building companies that pump millions into the local economy. Engler’s last impact report showed nearly $150 million in cumulative revenue and more than 140 jobs created within a decade.

Entrepreneurship in the Real World

One of the big conversations in this episode centers around a reality every business owner faces: pivoting, failing, and starting again.

DeMers shares stories of students who’ve lost entire hard drives, or who’ve had to scrap and rebuild their companies. Engler teaches that failure isn’t an identity, but rather a stepping stone.

Field emphasizes the power of community, reminding listeners that the most important work is always still ahead. And that even in places like Tecumseh, innovation blooms in unexpected places, including programs teaching entrepreneurship to the incarcerated.

Looking Ahead to Season Two

Field and DeMers close the conversation with a message to future entrepreneurs: the Engler Program is open-armed and open-sourced. Whether you're a student, a dreamer, or someone with an idea you can’t shake, Engler’s mission is to invest in your potential and help you build something that matters.

Season Two of Building Nebraska promises even more journeys across the state to capture the stories of the innovators, growers, makers, and doers shaping Nebraska’s future.