BOONE & NANCE COUNTY HAPPENINGS
Boone County Arama Shows
May 25 and 26 are the dates for the Arama Shows in Albion at the Boone County Fairgrounds at the Niewohner Arena. Shows are open to all Nebraska 4-H and FFA members exhibiting Sheep, Goats, Cattle, and Swine. Exhibitors must be age 8 before January 1 of this year and not have passed their 21st birthday before January 1st of this year. For the Swine show, exhibitors must be age 5 before January 1 and have not passed their 21st birthday before January 1. Livestock may be brought in after 6:00 am on Sunday, May 25.
For more information, see the show flyer.
Camps
The Regional Junior 4-H Camp will be held June 4-6 at Whispering Cedars Camp at Genoa. Camp Counselors are needed at this point. Counselors must be 16 to 18 years of age before January 1. You will be required to complete the Permission and Health form in 4-H Online and the background screening before coming to camp. Please register as soon as possible at https://forms.gle/Rp9tjANF95FvdQ497
Junior 4-H Camp is open to ALL youth, ages 8-11 before January 1st of this year. Early bird rate is $110 by May 2 at 4:00 pm. Then until May 8 at 4:00 pm the rate is $135. 12-year-olds can be put on a waiting list if registered and paid. If there is room after the May 8th deadline, they will be notified that they can attend. Campers can register at https://forms.gle/a83cQ7zY9Ss4i9TN8
Nance County campers make checks out to Nance County 4-H Council and send to Nance County Extension, PO Box 130, Fullerton, NE, 68638. Boone County campers make checks out to Boone County 4-H Council and send to Boone County Extension, 2624 Fairgrounds Rd, Albion, NE, 68620.
4-H Council scholarships may still be available. Download a fillable form here.
More information about Camp below:
Nebraska State 4-H Camps
YQCA in-person training will be held at the Nance County Extension Office May 9 at 6:30 pm. Training will be held in Antelope County on June 11 at 10:00 am. Call the Extension Office for a coupon code, and register at https://yqcaprogram.org.
Training can also be completed online. Help for registering for YQCA can be found at Help Doc for YQCA.
Loup Valley 4-H
Horse Conference
Nebraska Livestock Judging Classic
The Nebraska Livestock Judging Classic will be held June 13th at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. The $25 Registration Fee includes lunch and ice cream awards event. Registrations will be accepted the day of the event, although a phone call beforehand would be appreciated. For more information, call Kerry Elsen at 308-236-1235. For a schedule of events, go to https://nljc.unl.edu/schedule-events/
South Central Livestock Judging
The annual South Central Livestock Judging event will be held Thursday, May 20 at 10:00 am at the Webster County Fairgrounds in Bladen, NE. This event is part of the Great Plains Livestock Judging Circuit. There will be 8-10 placing classes. Classes can consist of any combination of breeding and/or market classes within beef, swine, sheep and goat species.
Senior contestants will give reasons for 4 classes and answer questions in 2 classes. Intermediates will give reasons in 3 classes and answer questions in 2 classes. Juniors will give reasons in 1 class and answer questions in 2 classes. Questions will be asked in a group format after the completion of all placing classes.
Check in/late registration: 9:00 am to 9:45 am. Contest begins at 10:00 am. Pre-register by May 22 at https://go.unl.edu/sclj25.
For questions, contact the Webster County Extension Office at 402-746-3417, or Katie Bolte at katie.bolte@unl.edu, orscan the QR code.
Special Garden Project
The focus for the 2025 Special Garden Project will be the Goldie Husk Cherry. This old-fashioned fruit from the tomato family has sweet berries inside golden husks.
There is still time to get some seeds for this project, and we have several extra packets if you have not signed up. Stop by the Extension Office to pick up seeds and information. This will be a nice county fair project. Exhibits can be an educational poster, fresh harvested vegetables, picture, story, essay, poem or your choice, all relating to the Goldie Husk Cherry.
Southern Plains Livestock Judging
Livestock judging May 30th at 9 am at the Nuckolls County Fairgrounds in Nelson. Cost is $10 per youth. YQCA session to follow starting at 1:30 pm. Register via https://forms.office.com/r/HTre9NMEkE. Lunch available.
Southern Plains Horse Judging
Horse judging opportunity at Thayer County Fairgrounds in Deshler May 17th at 9 am. Cost is $10.00 per youth. Register via https://forms.office.com/r/HTre9NMEkE.
If there is a chance of rain, call before you haul. A decision will be made by 6 am. 402-225-2381
4-H Small Animal Progress Show
Phelps County 4-H Council presents the 4-H Small Animal Progress show for rabbits, poultry, and pocket pets on June 7 at the Phelps County Fairgrounds in Holdrege. Pre-registration is not required. Companion animal and cat exhibitors are limited to four animals, and rabbits and poultry are limited to ten animal exhibits.
Registration for each animal is $3, and $1 for showmanship. Registration starts at 8:30 the day of the show. Clover Kids welcome. Call the Extension Office for a flyer, or call for more information
308-995-4222.
Cornhusker Economics
Check out the market value of ag land in Nebraska, and the cash rental rates. Download the "Nebraska Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates in 2025" (updated March 2025) at Cornhusker Economics.
To view other articles, go to https://agecon.unl.edu/cornhusker-economics
Backyard Poultry Workshops
Pesticide Safety Education Program
The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in concert with Extension Specialists, Extension Educators, and other collaborators, provides educational and training programs that address human health, the environment, economic well-being, and pesticide safety.
The new website is found at https://pested.unl.edu.
Online training for Private Applicator, Commercial and Noncommercial Applicator, and Chemigation can be found there.
