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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 twill 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 weighted 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.
State Fair & Aksarben Livestock Deadlines
AUGUST 10, 8:00 PM – STATE FAIR ENTRIES DUE IN SHOWORKS
(NOW CLOSED)
THE NEBRASKA STATE FAIR RUNS FROM AUGUST 28 TO SEPTEMBER 7, 2026
AKSARBEN STOCK SHOW RUNS SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2026. https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com
*Online entry window: August 1 - September 4.
More information about the Aksarben Stock Show nomination process is available at https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/p/livestock-show/entries Please follow their recommendations.
STATE FAIR INFORMATION
4-H Static Exhibits will be entered by County Staff, please bring items to the Extension office by 4:30 pm on August 19.
4-H Horticulture and Food Entries will be entered by County Staff. Please inform Extension office what items you are bringing by 4:30 pm on August 19, and bring the actual items to the office by 10:00 am Tuesday, August 25. Items will be transported to the Nebraska State Fair on Tuesday, August 25.
Note: All Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Rabbit and Poultry 4-H/FFA exhibitors will automatically receive an 11-day admission wristband at no cost. Exhibitors will not have to select a wristband as it will automatically be provided with the livestock, rabbit, and/or poultry entry. 4-H Dog Exhibitors and other non-livestock in-person entries (4-H Contests, Fashion Show, and the Robotics Showcase) will receive a free daily gate pass. All purchased items will be in the exhibitor packet when the exhibitor checks in at the Livestock Check-In Trailer.
The Main Page for the Nebraska State Fair Livestock Department has information about schedules, rules and regulations, health requirements, along with links to information for Open Class Livestock Shows, 4-H Livestock Shows and FFA Livestock Shows. At fair time you will also find important updates, results, and webcasting information. Maps for livestock exhibitors and arrival/departure schedules are also on this site.
State Fair Contests
Fashion Show is considered a CONTEST and will be held Saturday, August 29, 2025, Raising Nebraska, State Fairgrounds - Grand Island, Nebraska. If you are eligible for the Fashion Show, you should have received a detailed letter.
Other available contests at the Nebraska State Fair are the Dog Skillathon on September 6; and Identification contests on August 30: Horticulture Judging Contest, Insect Identification Contest, Tree Identification Contest, and Weed and Grass Identification Contest.
Contest schedules are available at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/state-fair/schedule/
4-H Day at the Fair
Nebraska 4‑H will host 4‑H Day at the Nebraska State Fair on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 2-4 p.m. in Raising Nebraska. 4‑H members and their families, volunteers, alumni, and supporters, are invited to attend an afternoon of recognition, activities, and celebration. Guests can enjoy special interactive activities, visit the 4‑H photo booth, and receive complimentary UNL Dairy Store ice cream (while supplies last).
A recognition program will begin at 3 p.m., honoring outstanding Nebraska 4‑H volunteers for their dedication to youth development and recognizing members of the Nebraska 4‑H Leadership Academy.
Discounted Nebraska State Fair gate passes for August 30 are available for purchase in advance. The special offer includes half-price gate admission for teens and adults (service fee applies; limit two tickets per purchase). https://go.unl.edu/2026nsf4hdaypasses
Nebraska State Fair Ticket Options
The Nebraska State Fair also has ticket options available to the general public. You can share the following link with any 4-H families and stakeholders who are planning to go to the fair: https://www.statefair.org/buy-tickets for additional details.
Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium
Students in grades 10 - 12 interested in the beef industry are eligible to apply for the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium held November 6-8, 2026 at University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Youth will:
- Participate in workshops and discussion with beef industry professionals
- Network with producers, industry professionals, and UNL faculty
- Meet students with similar interests
Demonstrate knowledge of the beef industry by creating and marketing a retail beef product.
If you're selected to participate and attend, a $75 registration fee (covers the cost of hotel, meals, and materials) will be required. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CASNR) will also award several scholarships.
Apply by September 1, 2026 at https://go.unl.edu/nybls.
Contact Taylor Nielsen at tnielsen11@unl.edu with questions.
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.
