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A new USDA report shows use of no-till, crop rotations, more efficient irrigation methods and advanced technologies have climbed in recent years.

“To lead is to seek out different viewpoints,” said Lexi Curnyn of Wayne.

“To lead is to be an example,” said Christine Haney of Schuyler.

“To lead is to encourage one another to be their best self,” said John Mullen of Wayne.

“To lead is to be that resourceful person that anyone can come to,” said Adi Perez of Schuyler.

(CropWatch file photo) Extension educators review their tips for successful prescribed burning this spring, as well as mineral supplementation to prevent grass tetany and boosting the first cutting of alfalfa through weed control.

Winter wheat condition improved slightly from last week and oat planting was 14% complete as of April 3.

Activities like visiting apple orchards provide kindergartners with space and time to explore interesting environments that cultivate an excitement for learning.
 Image source: Sara Wangler

April 21st is National Kindergarten Day. Kindergarten is a German word meaning “children’s garden.” The name was coined by the German educator Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel who created the first kindergarten in 1837. Froebel admired Jean-Jacques Rousseau who held to the idea that all children are inherently good. Rousseau also stressed that frequent opportunities for natural expression would allow children to develop into well-balanced and free-thinking individuals. Building upon Rousseau’s ideas, Froebel designed his kindergarten to be a place for children to explore music, nature, stories, and play to enhance their development and help them transition to school.

Margarethe Schurz opened the first kindergarten in the United States in 1856. It was a German-speaking kindergarten in Watertown, Wisconsin. The first English-speaking American kindergarten was opened by Elizabeth Peabody in Boston in 1860.

At the Thirteenth Annual Session of The National Conference of Charities and Correction in 1886, Constance Mackenzie presented on the expansion and impact of free kindergarten in the United States. She shared responses to the question, “In what direction is the influence of the kindergarten most potent?” A summary of the responses in 1886 includes developing will power, training children to think, developing self-control, establishing habits, and teaching obedience. In short: building character.

Although kindergarten has changed since those first programs in the 19th century, the importance of nurturing children’s development through play has not. The developmental skills impacted by kindergarten, such as developing will power, creative thinking, and self-control remain relevant. Children learn these skills by engaging in play and open-ended exploration of materials and environments with teachers and classmates.

Ideas for celebrating National Kindergarten Day

We celebrate National Kindergarten Day on April 21, which was Froebel’s birthday. You can celebrate National Kindergarten Day in simple ways by providing opportunities, time, and materials for activities that promote play and exploration.

• Read books with children. Reading supports children’s learning and development on multiple levels. Try a book about kindergarten such as Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolf.
• Spend time outside exploring what you see. Do not worry about a set plan for what you will do outside. Instead, be guided by what catches a child’s interest, whether that is a game or sport, a puddle of water, or finding shapes in the clouds.
• Sing songs or dance to music. Do you play an instrument? Invite children to move to a tune you play yourself.
• Act out stories with children, either from books or your own made-up scenarios.
• Thank a kindergarten teacher! Kindergarten teachers balance requirements around academic standards while nurturing an environment of play and wonder so that young children become creative thinkers, problem solvers, and socially competent citizens.

Do you know what school your child will attend?

If you have a child who has not yet attended kindergarten, contact your local school to confirm you are on their contact list. Ask if there is a kindergarten readiness event you and your child can attend. These events usually offer tours of the school, describe what children can expect, and facilitate time for children to meet future classmates. Learn more about kindergarten readiness by following the link below:

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Kindergarten may be a child’s first experience with school. The play-centered learning that happens in early childhood sets the stage for children’s ongoing enthusiasm for learning—so let’s celebrate kindergarten!

Sources

Brown, C.P. (2020, April 20). National kindergarten day: A day to celebrate the joy and value of play. Texas Education. https://education.utexas.edu/news/2020/04/15/national-kindergarten-day-day-celebrate-joy-value-play

Gershon, L. (2015, June 3). Why did kindergarten become just another grade? J Stor Daily. https://daily.jstor.org/kindergarten-become-just-another-grade/

Mackenzie, C. (1886, July). Free kindergartens. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved from: https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/kindergartens-a-history-1886/

Russell, J.L. (2011). From child’s garden to academic press: The role of shifting institutional logics in redefining kindergarten education. American Educational Research Journal, 48(2), 236-267. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27975289

ERIN KAMPBELL, EARLY CHILDHOOD EXTENSION EDUCATOR | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

Peer Reviewed by Jaci Foged, Lisa Poppe, and Lynn DeVries, Early Childhood Extension Educators

Make sure to follow The Learning Child on social media for more research-based early childhood education resources!

There are five dates scheduled for free, in-person farm and ag law clinics in April. 

This free Center for Agricultural Profitability webinar provides strategies for dealing with the stress of farming or ranching in today’s difficult economic environment.

Producers surveyed across the U.S. intend to plant a record high 91.0 million acres of soybeans in 2022, up 4% from last year, while corn acreage is expected to decrease by 4%.

The Crowdsourcing Team will have its own plot at WCREEC and compete in real time against all traditionally participating competitors of the 2022 TAPS sprinkler corn contest using a majority rule decision-making process.

The workshop covered 2022 cash rental rates, land values, leasing strategies, landlord-tenant communication, farm and ranch succession planning and an overview of farm programs for landowners.

Extension educators explain how to replace costly nitrogen fertilizer with legumes in grazeland and select alfalfa varieties for disease resistance.

Julie Batie-Louden and her father, Don Batie.

For the week ending March 27, 2022, winter wheat crop condition was at 47% fair, 24% good.

This webinar will give participants a better understanding of how drought impacts forage production on native rangeland, trigger dates and management options for cattle producers at each date.

Five 4-H members from across the state represented Nebraska at the 89th National 4-H Conference, held March 19-24 in the Washington, D.C. area. Nebraska delegates included:

• Helen Keiser, Dawson County
• Abigail Owens, Dawson County
• Parker Walahoski, Dawson County
• Spencer Walahoski, Dawson County
• Paige Wood, Nance County

Held annually, the National 4-H Conference serves to develop the next generation of leaders. The conference provides an opportunity to engage 4-H youth in personal development experiences that will increase knowledge, resources, and skills. The program aims to empower and mobilize 4-H youth to create positive social change in the communities in a meaningful and genuine way. National 4-H Conference provides the opportunity for young people to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, their nation, and their world.

Alongside youth delegates from across the nation, Nebraska delegates attended training workshops, became acquainted with the government, and met with state leaders. Highlights from the conference included meeting the Director of USDA's National Institute of Food & Agriculture, Dr. Carrie Castillo and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. 

Delegates were accompanied by Tracy Anderson, Lancaster County 4-H Extension Educator, and Brett Kreifels, Douglas-Sarpy County 4-H Extension Educator.

National 4-H Conference is the premier civic engagement event for 4-H members between the ages of 15 and 19. Nebraska delegates are selected each year through state-level Senior Achievement Applications and a thorough interview process. Delegates also receive funding for trip expenses through the Nebraska 4-H Foundation. For more information about National 4-H Conference, please visit 4h.unl.edu/conference.