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Boone & Nance Co Happenings
BOONE & NANCE COUNTY HAPPENINGS
2027 Boone County Calf Roundup
- Only participants enrolled in 4-H or FFA the current year are eligible. Must signed up by October 1st and put down a $500 deposit payable to Boone County 4-H Council.
- Contestants must be nine (9) years but must be under nineteen (19) years of age as of January 1, 2026 to apply for the 2027 project year.
- Applicants entering this contest do so at their own risk and acknowledge that they could be injured by their participation. The Boone County 4-H Council and Boone County Fairboard will not be responsible for any injuries connected with this contest. In addition, the Boone County 4-H Council and Boone County Fairboard will not be responsible for any harm caused by the calf during the ownership period of the participant.
- Steers are sourced from one herd and can vary in breed from year to year. They will be acquired by the Boone County 4-H Council directly from the producer or if there are no producers willing to sell calves for the program, they can be bought at the sale barn out of a single group of calves.
- Participants will pay market value for the steers based on weight and current market economics. Participants must pick up the steer from a designated location to be announced later.
- Steers are randomly given a tag number, and participants will randomly draw a tag number and that will be their project for the year.
- It will be the exhibitor's responsibility to feed, halter break, and care for the steer. The 4-H Council can offer guidance or resources to help if needed.
- The exhibitors will keep a record book of what they learned through the project, participate in an interview with the 4-H Council, and exhibit their steer in the beef show at the County Fair.
- The Boone County Calf Roundup steers are eligible to compete in showmanship. They will have their own division during the steer show that consists of the other Boone County Calf Roundup steers. The winner of the division will be eligible to come back for overall champion.
- The steers are also eligible for the Rate of Gain contest as long as they are weighed in at one of the scheduled dates.
- The exhibitors own the steer from this project, and it will be their responsibility to have a plan on what to do with the steer after the fair.
- The Boone County 4-H Council reserves the right to take the calf away from any member who does not abide by these rules, including record-keeping, or does not properly feed the calf or does not take full responsibility for the calf. If any calf is taken away, returned, or forfeited, no allowances will be made for any expenses incurred.
Please complete the Fillable Application by October 1st and put down a $500 deposit payable to Boone County 4-H Council.
National 4-H Week
The official theme for National 4-H Week 2026 is “Beyond Ready”. Celebration dates are October 4 to October 10. Key activities include "Go Green Day" on Monday October 5 (wear green to show state 4-H spirit), and "Thankful/4-H for Good Day" on Thursday, October 8 (Recognize community impact and contributions in some tangible way).
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.
STATE FAIR & AKSARBEN
State Fair Results can be found at https://www.nebraska4hresults.com/2026-results. Results can be searched by County, Exhibitor Name, or Department.
Professional photos from the 4‑H beef, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep, and swine shows, as well as the 4‑H Final Drive are available for purchase from Legacy Livestock Imaging. Professional photos from the 4‑H Fashion Show and Nebraska 4‑H’s candid photos are available as free downloads at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebraska4h/albums
Aksarben results can be found at https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/p/livestock-show/results1
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.
