Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills | Nebraska Extension

Local Interest/Resources

The Central Sandhills Area Nebraska Extension Office serves Blaine, Grant, Hooker, and Thomas Counties. These four counties cover a 114-mile stretch of Highway 2 and 2,900 square miles (1,856,000 acres) in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. Beef cattle outnumber the people and are the main economic driver of the area. While the population of the Central Sandhills Area is less than 2,500 people, it includes four county governments, four county 4-H councils and fairs, four school districts, three state legislative districts, three health departments, two time zones, two educational service units, and one Nebraska Extension office.

Along with our local Livestock Systems Educator, 4-H/Youth Development Assistant, and Office Manager; regional Extension faculty work to serve the mission of Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills Area: engaging with Nebraskans wherever they are, connecting them with the resources, research and innovation of the University of Nebraska.

Local Items of Note

4-H Online Enrollment Website
@beefeducator Resources/Links
Join 4-H
Hay Testing Probes Available for Checkout
Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get an accurate nutritive value to make sure cows are meeting requirements and to minimize hay waste. Central Sandhills Area Extension loans out hay probes for ranchers to collect hay samples. Call 645-2267 if you would like to borrow one.
Our office and staff are funded by the four counties we serve and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Links to each county government webpage are below

News of Interest

The March 4-H Newsletter is Here!

Check out the new 4-H Newsletter Here!

Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills Area Welcomes Back 4-H Alum Brittney Walker

Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills Area Welcomes Back 4-H Alum Brittney Walker
“Making the Best Better” Comes Full Circle

The Central Sandhills Area Extension Office is thrilled to welcome back one of its own, Brittney Walker, as the new 4-H/Youth Assistant! A proud Hooker and Grant County 4-H alum, Brittney returns to her roots with a deep passion for youth development and rural communities, ready to inspire the next generation of 4-H leaders.

Raised on her family’s ranch just east of Whitman, Brittney's 4-H journey began at age nine. She quickly found her stride as a member of the Grant County Sharpshooters, competing at both state and national levels in BB gun and air rifle. She also showed market steers and made several sewing and baking exhibits for the Hooker County Fair. Among her favorite 4-H memories? Long summer days spent in the kitchen and sewing room with her grandma, learning the timeless skills that would help shape her future.

Brittney carried her passion for agriculture and leadership to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a degree in Grazing Livestock Systems with a minor in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications in December 2022. She hit the ground running, serving as the 4-H Assistant in Seward County from January 2023 to August 2025.

Now, she’s coming home not just to familiar faces, but to a region she loves and knows by heart.

In her new role, Brittney will lead school enrichment programs and organize youth workshops across Blaine, Thomas, Hooker, and Grant counties. She’ll also work closely with local 4-H Councils and Clubs to support the hands-on learning experiences that define the 4-H tradition.

Her journey is a testament to the power of 4-H and now she’s ready to give back to the same community that helped shape her into the leader she is today.

Welcome home, Brittney!

For more information on 4-H in your area or how to get enrolled, Brittney can be reached at bemerson4@unl.edu or (308) 645-2267.

Rural Poll Reports

Current Reports

By collaborating with the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES), the Rural Poll team has created an interactive data report showing the results of the longest-running poll of rural life in the United States. The NEBRASKA RURAL POLL INTERACTIVE REPORT helps you explore what rural Nebraskans think about certain issues, such as well-being, civil discourse, artificial intelligence, housing, economy and trade, and their communities. This report can also be used to help local and state leaders better understand the needs, priorities, and viewpoints of Nebraska’s rural citizens.

For the most recent report on rural Nebraskans' views, see here: https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/current-reports/

Center for Ag Profitability (CAP) Free Webinars

The Center for Ag Profitability's webinar series focuses on topics related to farm and ranch management, profitability, economics and farm survival for producers and ag industry professionals in Nebraska and beyond. The live webcasts are typically presented at noon Central time on Thursdays. Registration is always free. View upcoming webinars and watch past recordings at CAP Webinars