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Boone & Nance Co Happenings
BOONE & NANCE COUNTY HAPPENINGS
2027 4-H AMBASSADORS
The 4-H Council may select up to three individuals who best represent the Boone County 4-H Program. The ambassadors should be well spoken and carry themselves with poise, a sense of self-worth, and respect. They should be a leader who shows initiative and a sense of pride and commitment to promote and represent the Boone County 4-H Program.
To apply:
You must be 4-H age 14-18 by January of the current year and have completed a minimum of two years in 4-H not including the current year, and be currently enrolled.
You must complete an application and turn it in to the Extension 4-H Office by January 15, 2027.
Applicants will be interviewed on their 4-H experience by a panel of judges after applications have been reviewed. Applicants should be available for an interview at this time.
Applicants must supply two references with contact information (non-family member).
Expectations of Ambassadors are as follows:
Must be willing to represent 4-H throughout the year including participation in local community events and 4-H county activities (some activities outside your comfort zone).
Follow the 4-H Code of Conduct at all times.
Follow the dress code.
Ambassadors will be expected to carry out their duties as per contract with the 4-H Council.
To be selected as a Boone County 4-H Ambassador is both an honor and a responsibility. Some of the rewards are:
$500 Scholarship to college of choice
Recognition at County Fair Livestock Premium Sale and Achievement Day
Two 4-H polo shirts to wear at events
Resume/scholarship building experience
Applications are available at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/boone-nance/boonenance-county-4-h/4-h-clubs-materials, at the Extension Office, or an application can be emailed to you upon request.
UPCOMING PRIVATE PESTICIDE TRAINING DATES
Official letters will come out in December to those needing to update their private pesticide licenses. Check back for information about how to register!
NEBRASKA AG & NATURAL RESOURCES PODCASTS NOW AVAILABLE!
A new agriculture and natural resources podcast collection brings podcasts from across the university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources together on one website, making it easier for listeners to find programs they already follow and discover others they may not know about.
Many of the podcasts featured in the collection have built audiences over years, providing timely, research-based information to Nebraska producers, agricultural professionals and communities. The new online collection provides a single starting point for exploring that content.
The collection includes:
- “Backyard Farmer,” offering gardening and turf information throughout the growing season;
- “BeefWatch Podcast,” providing research-based information to help beef cattle producers improve the sustainability and profitability of their operations;
- “The Buddy Seat,” featuring conversations with farmers, industry specialists and academic experts on current agricultural topics to help producers make informed decisions for their operations;
- “CropWatch Podcast,” providing research-based information on crop production, pest management and related agricultural topics for farmers and agribusinesses;
- “Daugherty Water for Food Podcast,” exploring issues and ideas related to food and water security;
- “Engler Journey,” featuring conversations about entrepreneurship and the people pursuing it;
- “Extension Almanac,” featuring interviews with Nebraska Extension specialists and educators on topics ranging from livestock and crop production to nutrition, lawns and gardens;
- “Nebraska FARMcast,” providing agricultural information and analysis from the university’s Center for Agricultural Profitability; and
- “WildAg Podcast,” connecting landowners and conservation professionals through conversations about agriculture, conservation and wildlife.
Programs will also continue to be available through the channels their audiences already use.
The collection will continue to grow as new podcasts are developed and additional existing programs are identified.
Explore the university’s agriculture and natural resources podcasts.
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 2026" (updated March 2026).
To view other articles, go to Cornhusker Economics.
2026 NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL CUSTOM RATES REPORT
Nebraska Custom Rates Surveys and Reports for farm and ranch operations provide custom operators with average market rate data for dozens of common custom services provided across the state.
Actual rates paid for custom services may vary from those listed in these survey results due to differences in the operators responding and those providing services across the state.
A downloadable report provides an introductory summary along with a Nebraska state summary of the most popular custom rates reported from the 2026 survey.
CATCH-A-CALF PROGRAM
Applications for the 2027-2028 season are OPEN!
Participants come from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming to compete in the National Western Stock Show’s longest-running program of practical beef cattle management. In just over 80 years the Catch-A-Calf Contest has awarded nearly 3,000 steers to 4-H members hailing from the western United States.
The program began in 1935 when 10 boys caught 10 sponsored calves. The contest quickly caught on, and the program grew to include 52 calves by 1942. Soon after World War II, the program settled at 40 calves per year, which is where the number continues to stand today.
The program is designed so that successful participants catch a calf, feed it, and return with the animal one year later as a market-ready steer at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The steers are judged on production and carcass quality, while the participants are judged on showmanship, record books, and a personal interview. The Grand and Reserve Grand Champion participants sell their steers at the Auction of Junior Livestock Champions held on the final Friday of the Stock Show.
This program is open to active 4-H and FFA members ages 14-18 (who must be residents) in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska & Wyoming. For rules and regulations,and to apply, see the National Western Stock Show website. Applications are due January 1, 2027. Check out the schedule of events for the 2027 Catch-A-Calf show.
