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Conducting On-Farm Research provides farmers with information that improves their return on investment by testing products and techniques in an unbiased, repeatable format.
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2025 Private Applicator Training
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.
PSEP Private Training DatesReturning to the Farm 2025 Workshop Series
The Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will present Returning to the Farm 2025, a workshop series for families who are in the transition process of bringing members back to the farm or ranch. It will begin with a two-day workshop in for multi-generational families.
March 7 and 8, at Central Community College in Hastings, 550 S. Technical Blvd.
Must register online.
Registration2025 UNL Chick Days
An educational event for small and back-yard poultry producers and youth.
Saturday, March 22, 2025, Check-In: 8:30 AM
Registration Deadline - must be mailed before March 15, 2025
For More information and Registration form click the Chick Days button below
Chick Days 2025CHIME
Early Childhood
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.
Registration and More Information
Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! Workshops
Join local childcare providers for the Learn, Go, Eat and Go! Workshops on March 24, 2025. If you are educating around gardening, nutrition, or physical activity with school age or early childhood audiences, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the evidence-based curriculum we have collaborated on with Texas A & M AgriLife Extension.
We are hosting the training at Raising Nebraska on the Nebraska State Fair Grounds, March 24, 2025.
The school age training will run from 9:30-11:30 am, and the Early Childhood training is set for 1-3:00 pm.
You must register to attend
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.
Horticulture Helpline Information
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 InformationGRO Big Red Virtual Learning
All programs are on the second Wednesday of the month from Noon-1 pm CT.
February 12 - Starting a vegetable garden - Dana Freeman, Urban Ag Instructor - Discover the joy of vegetable gardening in this beginner-friendly class.
March 12 - Rain Gardens: Where to Use Them/ What to Plant in Them - Kelly Feehan, Extension Educator - Learn about rain garden plants that succeed in Nebraska rain gardens.
April 9 - Trees to Plant and Trees to Avoid - Elizabeth Exstrom, Extension Educator - Choosing the perfect tree for your landscape is more than just a decision, it's a long-term investment that can transform your outdoor space!
May 14 - Consider these Natives - Scott Evans, Extension Assistant - Scott will guide you through a selection of native trees, shrubs, perennials, and even annuals that are well-suited for home landscapes.
More Information and Registration
ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update Workshops
This series of in-person workshops are offered across Nebraska and the workshops are specifically designed for nursery & green industry professionals, including public works employees, landscape managers, arborists, tree board volunteers and cemetery & grounds keepers.
Details and Registration
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.
NE 4-H Horse Stampede
Contact Beth Janning if interested in being on the team
The Nebraska 4-H Horse Stampede offers a variety of 4-H horse contests that do not require live animals, including public speaking, demonstration, quiz bowl, hippology, horse judging, art, and photography contests. Youth have the opportunity to display their equine knowledge through these contests both as an individual and as part of a team. The 4-H Horse Stampede is March 29th & 30th at the UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Adams County practice dates will be in February and March and can be found on our Calendar page
More Stampede Details2025 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
Applications will be due on April 15, 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.
More DetailsPart 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)
February 27 (Thursday)
Adam County Extension Office
2975 S. Baltimore Ave., Hastings, NE 68901
Pre-Register by February 24
2025 Tractor & Equipment Safety 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.
NDA's Annual Poster Contest Highlights Amazing Nebraska Agriculture
Students get your crayons ready! The Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s (NDA) annual poster contest is underway and open to all Nebraska students in first through sixth grades. This year’s theme, “Agriculture is Amazing,” highlights and celebrates Nebraska’s number one industry. The deadline to submit posters is March 1, 2025.
“Everything about Nebraska agriculture is amazing, from the food we eat, to the feed for our livestock, to the fuel for our vehicles,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “It’s important to tell students about Nebraska’s incredible ag industry and how agriculture is the heart of our roots and economy. Our annual poster contest gives parents and teachers an opportunity to share their knowledge.”
NDA will announce the winners during National Agriculture Week, March 16-22, 2025, the perfect time to celebrate Nebraska agriculture. National Ag Week highlights the diversity of agriculture and celebrates the food, fuel, and fiber that farmers and ranchers provide every day. NDA will feature winning entries from this year’s contest on its website and in promotional materials and publications.
NDA’s poster contest is divided into three age categories for judging purposes: first and second grade students; third and fourth grade students; and fifth and sixth grade students, in any Nebraska public, private or home school. All posters must be created exclusively by students and relate to this year’s theme. Entries will be judged on originality, effort, and accuracy, and must be received at NDA’s office by March 1, 2025.
Poster contest rules and official entry forms are available online at nda.nebraska.gov/kids. For more information, contact Christin Kamm at 402-471-6856 or by email at christin.kamm@nebraska.gov.
