1968 Twenty-seven acres, a swimming pool and roller skating rink, which had been built around 1928, were purchased for the
leadership training of the FFA and named The Nebraska Youth Leadership Development Center. Articles of Incorporation were
signed by Irv Wedeking, Dr. Ted Ward, and Norval McCaslin.
1971 First FFA Camp held. They slept in Army tents.
1972 Two cabins were roughed in. Money was provided by Rural Rehabilitation Funds and administrated by the Nebraska
Department of Agriculture.
1973 The third cabin was builty and bunkbeds were bought with help from Ak-Sar-Ben.
1974 A full-time Director was hired.
1975 The roller skating rink, known as "Old White", was remodeled. It was used as classrooms, auditorium, and canteen.
1977 The house for the resident Director was completed.
1978 A new swimming pool was completed with funds from the Rural Rehabilitation Funds which were administrated by the
Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
1979 Mather Dining Hall was built with one half of the funds from the Myrl and Bessie Mather Foundation. Dedication was held
October 21.
1980 The night of the Grand Island tornadoes, we received seven and one-half inches of rain. Two of the basement walls washed in
on "Old White." It was condemned by the Fire Marshall and dismantled.
1982 Nebraska Hall was built to replace "Old White." This consists of five classrooms and a large auditorium which serves as a
recreational area as well. This was built with funds from many individuals, the Nebraska Bankers Asociation and a low interest
loan from S.B.A. disaster funds. Dedication was November 1.
1983 Ak-Sar-Ben Square enclosed the swimming pool, adding office space, a canteen, and meeting space. Dedication was October
31.
1984 Kiewit Lodge, a twenty-eight room motel type housing unit, was completed.
1989 Sixteen and one-half acres were purchased for future growth. A three and one-half acre pond was developed with the N.R.D.
providing the engineering and overseeing of the project. The pond was stocked with fish in August.
1990 With the help of a grant from the Frank and Alice Farr Foundation, the driveway, parking lot, and service roads were paved
with asphalt. Nebraska Hall was renamed in honor of Dr. Allen Blezek and dedicated October 7.
1991 Our name was changed to "The Leadership Center."
1994 Ak-Sar-Ben Lakeside, additional meeting room space with a capacity of 400 people, along the west side of Ak-Sar-Ben
Square was completed. Dedicated April 19.
1995 42 x 60 Morton Building put up for equipment storage.
1996 Parking lot expansion for approximately 50 more vehicles.
The Conference Room was remodeled into the Board Room.
1997 The Board Room was dedicated in honor of Cliff Jensen on October 5.
2003 Mather Hall expansion and remodeling.
2004 Ted Ward Lodge, a thirty-two room motel, was completed.
