Nebraska Extension in Adams County provides the Adams County community with research-based information and educational programs from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Our county office can connect you with regional Nebraska Extension educators who can help answer your questions about gardening and trees, 4-H programs, crops, pesticide application, nutrition, early childhood and more. We offer a wide variety of classes, workshops and trainings throughout the year for youth, families, farmers, ranchers and businesses within the community.
Nebraska Extension is able to provide locally focused educational programs and expertise in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, healthcare and technology with offices serving 93 counties across the state.
Updates/Local Events
Adams County Progress Show 2025
Dates: June 21st and June 22nd
Sponsored by Adams County 4-H Council
Early Bird Registration must be postmarked by June 11, 2025
Regional Dairy Goat & Cattle 4-H Youth Show
Saturday, June 21, 2025 @ 10:00 AM
Clay County Fairgrounds
Registration deadline: June 4, 2025
Big Red Summer Academic Camps
Registration for Big Red Camps is now open! Big Red Camps are residential career exploration camps for incoming 9th through 12th grade students which provide the opportunity to live on and explore the Nebraska campus, meet people from across the country, spend time investigating an interest or potential career, and have a lot of fun! Participants will work with our university faculty to explore the topic of their particular camp, like animation, fashion entrepreneurship, or engineering.
Hurry, camps are filling up fast.
2025 Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute
Are you a current High School Junior or Senior wanting to learn more about agriculture and discover career opportunities in the industry, “NAYI is a great way for the next generation of ag leaders to connect with today’s ag industry. It’s a remarkable experience.”
NAYI will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus July 7–11, 2025.
Students who are currently high school juniors and seniors interested in attending must apply online thru the NAYI Website.
Heavy Equipment Career Exploration
Youth who are 8th – 12th grade in fall of 2025, Date: June 23, 2025, Location:
Location: Central Community College. Check-in: 9:30 AM - Wrap-up: 4:30 PM
Registration Deadline June 13th by 5:00 PM
Learn to navigate and drive virtual heavy equipment simulators, behind the wheel experience with a variety of heavy equipment pieces. Learn about the Hastings CCC Heavy Equipment Program, Career panel and campus tours. For more Details
CROPS
Conducting On-Farm Research provides farmers with information that improves their return on investment by testing products and techniques in an unbiased, repeatable format.
2025 Private Applicator Training and More
A licensed applicator who uses any restricted-use pesticide (RUP) for the purpose of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him/her or his/her employer. Also includes any person applying restricted-use pesticides on the property of another person without compensation (other than the trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities). Private pesticide license recertification offered at a variety of locations across Nebraska or can be taken online.
Nebraska Tree Care and Planting 101 Videos
So much of a tree's future depends on how it was planted! The Nebraska Forest Service is compiling recordings of its monthly webinar series so that all homeowners can gain expert guidance on how to plant and care for their trees.
2025 Nebraska Turfgrass Field Day
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at the East Campus Turf Research Center in Lincoln, NE.
This is a great opportunity to see and learn more about the ongoing applied research and collaborative work in the Turfgrass Science program here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Clients that can benefit from this field day include people who manage athletic and recreational fields in schools and colleges, golf courses, parks and recreation, and professional lawn care management.
We also have more information on the field day on our website at: https://turf.unl.edu/nebraska-turfgrass-field-day
Early Childhood
CHIME
Cultivating Healthy, Intentional, Mindful Educators- CHIME, is an 8-week series that offers research and best practices for providing responsive care by engaging in reflective practices. Mindfulness as it applies to the early childhood setting and social-emotional development is presented along with ways to be more responsive and less reactive towards children and work challenges. Strategies are shared for incorporating mindfulness practices into daily activities as a way to facilitate and enhance educator’s abilities in maintaining a healthy sense of well-being and nurturing children’s development.
For more information on the next CHIME on-line program go to our website.
CHIME Website
Co-parenting for Successful Kids
“Co-parenting for Successful Kids” is a research-based education class designed to help separating and divorcing parents cope with divorce and custody. Strengthens communication skills that can improve interactions between children and parents.
Resources
Want to learn more of ways in improving young children’s lives? Here is information and resources about early child development.
Adams County 4-H
4-H is open to ALL YOUTH, of ALL ABILITIES ages 5 to 18. Youth can join 4-H at any time of the year. We strongly recommend youth enroll by April 15th to have the best participation in the Adams County 4-H Program. Some projects require an earlier enrollment, such as shooting sports.
We appreciate and value our ADULT volunteers, who help and guide our youth.
The enrollment process is done online and needs to be done every year for both, Youth and Volunteers.
2025 4-H Summer Workshops
The Adams County Summer Workshops is a summer learning experience offered to youth by Extension staff, volunteers, and community members. This program is designed to provide engaging hands-on education for youth of all ages. Summer Workshops is a great way for youth to make new friends, learn new skills or spark a new interest! Workshops are open to all youth, ages 5-18. Please take note of the suggested age requirements when selecting classes.
The 2025 Summer Workshops are partly sponsored by Hastings Ford/Lincoln. Please be sure to Thank them for the donation.
Payment required by Pre-Registration Deadline unless otherwise stated.
Take and Make Kits for Buckets of Fun
We are trying something new! Hope you like our take home and make it kits. These kits are to make your life a little easier when it comes to planning exhibits for the fair and fun things to keep the youth engaged throughout the summer. Please note the date that you need to register for the kits (you may register earlier). Kits will be available for pick up as stated. Please plan to pick up within 5 business days of the stated pick up date. Payment is due in cash or check by the registration deadline date.
4-H Camps and More
Adams County has 2 camps offered must register by deadline to participate.
Clover Kids Day Camp (4-H Age 5-7)
Adams/Clay/Webster County Day Camp (ages 8 - 18)
Horticulture, Landscape
Adams County Horticulture Helpline
Have a plant problem? or a question about your trees, lawn, garden, flowers, or houseplant? We can help! And at little or no cost.
For more information or assistance contact Rita Brhel at 402-261-7209, via email rbrhel3@unl.edu .
Ponca Corn
Pick up your packet of sacred Ponca corn at no cost at the Adams County Extension Office, courtesy of the Adams County Master Gardeners and the Ponca Tribe. The corn comes with an informational packet on the history and how-to of the Three Sisters Gardening Method if you'd like to grow your corn with traditional indigenous agricultural practices.
More Information
These programs are designed for anyone caring for a home lawn and garden.
All programs are on Wednesdays from Noon-1 pm CT.
May 14 - Consider these Natives
June 11 - Garden Friends
July 9 - Rose Management
August 13 - Fall Turf Activities
September 10 - Growing Herbs
October 8 - Unusual Small Fruits
Details and Registration
Nebraska Grows Virtual Learning
These programs are designed for gardeners who are growing fruits and vegetables to sell at local farmers markets.
All programs are on Tuesdays from Noon-1 pm CT.
May 6 - Lessons from High Tunnel Production - Katie Jantzen, West End Farm
May 13 - Biochar Basics - Nash Leef, Flatwater Carbon
May 20 - Update from USDA-NRCS - Brach Johnson, USDA-NRCS Urban Conservationist
May 27 - Insects to Watch for in 2025 - Dr. Kyle Koch, UNL Department of Entomology
ProHort Lawn & Landscape
These Lunch and Learn programs are designed for green industry professionals to connect and share about current issues in landscapes, management strategies and resources.
All programs are on Tuesdays from Noon-1 pm CT.
May 20
June 17
July 15
August 19
September 16
October 21
Join Lunch and Learn Webinar
For more specific help designed for nursery & green industry professionals, including public works employees, landscape managers, arborists, tree board volunteers and cemetery & grounds keepers, please visit the ProHort Website
2025 Tractor Safety & Equipment Training
Federal law prohibits youth under 16 years of age from using certain equipment on a farm unless their parents or legal guardians own the farm. However, certification received through National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with certain mechanized equipment.
In Nebraska, Nebraska Extension and CS-CASH collaborate to offer NSTMOP certification. Certification is earned by completing a two-day certification course, which includes a written test and a driving exam. Successful completion grants NSTMOP certification, allowing youth to operate tractors and certain mechanized equipment on farms and ranches, and obtain a husbandry permit.
Classes will be offered in May and June. Must register to attend on the UNMC College of Public Health website.
Part 107 Drone Test Prep Course
Nebraska Extension will be offering one-day (eight hour) courses across the state to prepare individuals to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Knowledge Exam required to receive a Part 107 remote pilot certification or license to fly drones for commercial applications.
Location Information and registration is available online. Pre-registration is required with a $275 registration fee. Study materials, and light breakfast and lunch will be provided. An educational discount is available to students and educators through an application process available on the registration link.
Please contact Dr. Dirk Charlson for more information on this course at Email: dirk.charlson@unl.edu or Cell: 402-460-0742 (Text or Call)
We would appreciate it if you Pre-Register for a class
