Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Check out the new May 4-H Newsletter here

4-H County Fair Dates 2025

 Thomas County Fair (CT)

 • July 21 - Small Animal Show 8:00 AM

 • July 21 - Style Revue Judging 1:00 PM

 • July 22 - Horse Show @ 9:00 AM

 • July 23- Livestock Show @ 9:00 AM

 • July 24- Static Entries @ 9:00 AM

Blaine County Fair (CT)

• July 22- Horse Show w/TC @ 9:00 AM

 • July 29- Static Entries and Style Revue Judging @9:00 AM

 • July 31 - Livestock Show 9:00 AM

 • July 31 - Small Animal Show 11:00 AM

Hooker County Fair (MT)

• July 28- Small Animal @ 8:00 AM

 • July 28- Style Revue Judging @ 1:00 PM

 • July 29- Horse Show @ 8:00 AM

 • July 31- Static Entries @ 8:00 AM

 • August 2- Livestock Show @ 8:00 AM

Grant County Fair (MT)

• July 30 - Style Revue Judging @ 2:30 PM

 • August 6- Horse Show @ 8:30 AM

 • August 7- Small Animal Show @ 9:00 AM

 • August 8- Static Entries @ 9:00 AM

 • August 9- Livestock Show @ 8:30 AM; Auction at 1:30 PM

Check the Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills Facebook page or call the office at 308-645-2267 for the most up to date information on fair schedules/changes.

Cattle producers and beef industry professionals are invited to attend the 2025 Summer Stocker/Yearling Tour on Tuesday, June 17, in North Platte, Nebraska. The tour will focus on the theme of retained ownership, providing attendees with firsthand insights into pasture recovery, herd management, and profitability strategies.

The event begins with registration from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center (WCREEC), followed by a morning visit to Pawnee Springs Ranch to tour pastureland affected by wildfire, where attendees will observe pasture recovery and learn about adaptive grazing practices.

Following the morning tour, participants will return to WCREEC for lunch at 12:30 p.m., with a producer panel to follow from 1 to 1:45 p.m. The panel will feature local producers discussing retained ownership strategies and partnerships.

The afternoon concludes with a visit to FKW Farms and White Schroeder Wiseman Stocker Partnership, where attendees will see stocker/yearling management practices in action and participate in a group debrief.

Pre-registration is required by June 10. Register online at https://go.unl.edu/summerstockertour or call 308-268-3105. There is a $20 fee to attend, which includes lunch and materials. The event is sponsored by Merck Animal Health and hosted in collaboration with Nebraska Extension, local producers, and industry partners. 

The tour provides an opportunity to share insights into heifer and yearling development, grazing management, and value-added marketing. It also supports ongoing partnerships between producers and researchers at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, part of UNL’s statewide commitment to advancing Nebraska’s beef industry.

Nebraska Extension will be offering one-day (eight hour) courses across the state to prepare individuals to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Knowledge Exam required to receive a Part 107 remote pilot certification or license to fly drones for commercial applications.
Registration is available online (Link) for each location. Pre-registration is required with a $275 registration fee. On-line registration closes the Monday prior to the event. Study materials, and light breakfast and lunch will be provided. An educational discount is available to students and educators through an application process available on the registration link.
Please contact Dr. Dirk Charlson for more information on this course at
Email: dirk.charlson@unl.edu or Cell: 402-460-0742 (Text or Call)

May 30 (Friday)
UNL West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE 69101
June 27 (Friday)
Hall County Extension Office, 3180 US-34, Grand Island, NE 68801
July 11 (Friday)
Platte County Extension Office, 2715 13th St., Columbus, NE 68601
July 17 (Thursday)
Lancaster County Extension Office, 44 Cherry Creek Rd. Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68528
August 1 (Friday)
UNL West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE 69101

August 8 (Friday)
Hall County Extension Office, 3180 US-34, Grand Island, NE 68801
August 14 (Thursday)
Lancaster County Extension Office, 44 Cherrycreek Rd. Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68528
August 29 (Friday)
UNL West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE 69101 

November 19, 2024

Lincoln, Neb. —Nebraska Extension Beef Educator, T.L. Meyer is celebrating 25 years at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. Through her 25 years at the university, Meyer has served in a variety of roles that each played a unique part in her career. Beginning at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, Meyer started her career at UNL as a communications associate. “I was originally drawn to the role at West Central because I wanted to return to the Sandhills of Nebraska that I was familiar with growing up,” Meyer said. She served in the communications role for four years before becoming a research technologist at the center. Transitioning to the research role brought Meyer many opportunities. She was able to return to the hands-on work with cattle that she enjoyed and finish working on her master’s degree in animal science from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. “Pursuing a master’s degree was one of the greatest perks that I could work on while being an employee at the university,” Meyer said. Continuously learning new things is one aspect of her career that Meyer enjoys the most. Yet, Meyer has still found unique ways to utilize her academic degrees in different ways. At the start of her career, Meyer took advantage of her animal science and ag journalism degrees from Kansas State University while serving in the communications and research technician roles. In her role as a beef educator for Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills area, Meyer continues to utilize her knowledge of animal science and ag journalism to serve and act as a resource to ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills. While her two degrees in animal science help serve ranchers in Nebraska, her degree in ag journalism helps reach them through her unique approach to social media. Meyer uses Facebook, Instagram, and X to reach her audience and continuously update them on changes in the industry and opportunities that could help them strengthen their operations. While only serving in her most recent role for five years, Meyer hopes to continue impacting ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills and beyond by providing them with valuable sources of information. Accepting a communications role to return to the Nebraska Sandhills has now led Meyer to serve an industry she is passionate about in a place that feels like home. “The Beef State is the best place you can be a beef educator,” Meyer said.

To find T.L. Meyer on social media, search Central Sandhills Beef Educator on Facebook, Instagram, or X.

POLL SHOWS MOST RURAL NEBRASKANS HAVE ECONOMIC CONCERNS

 Lincoln, Nebraska, Nov. 1, 2024 — Most rural Nebraskans are at least somewhat concerned about their household’s cost of living, income and financial situation, according to the most recent report from the 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll, which focuses on the economy and trade policy.

Eight in 10 rural Nebraskans surveyed are either somewhat or very concerned about their household’s cost of living, nearly seven in 10 are concerned about their household income, and just over six in 10 are concerned about their household’s personal finances.  

 This is especially true for lower income households, the poll shows.

 Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely to be concerned about their personal finances. Almost eight in 10 respondents with household incomes under $75,000 are at least somewhat concerned about their finances, compared to 44% of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more.  

 “In earlier released results from the 2024 Rural Poll, we found rural Nebraskans have been increasingly pessimistic about their current situation,” said Brad Lubben, Nebraska Extension policy specialist. “These economic concerns may be a primary factor behind the declining general sentiment of rural Nebraskans. Higher consumer prices due to higher inflation rates of the past few years have spiked the cost of living and left many rural Nebraskans with concerns for their economic well-being.” 

 The 2024 Rural Poll also asked a series of questions about trade policy and its importance to Nebraska.

 Fifty-five percent of rural Nebraskans surveyed think international trade is good for the state’s economy, while just 8% think it is bad. However, residents of the Panhandle are less likely than residents of other regions to agree. Just over a third of Panhandle residents surveyed (36%) say trade is good for Nebraska’s economy, compared to 66% of residents of the north-central region. While most respondents statewide think trade is good for the state’s economy, a smaller percentage (43%) think it is good for creating jobs in the state, compared to 16% who think it is bad. 

 Rural Nebraskans are less positive about international trade’s impacts on them personally, said Becky Vogt, the manager of the Rural Poll. At least four in 10 respondents think trade is good for their standard of living, while 35% think it is good for their job or business. Many rural Nebraskans think international trade is neutral for these items, according to the poll, but most respondents in agricultural occupations (67%) see international trade as good for their job or business. 

 When asked which factors should be used in determining U.S. trade policy, six in 10 respondents think protecting American jobs should be very important. Just over half think creating new export opportunities for the state’s agricultural producers and other businesses (55%) and lower prices for consumers (51%) should be very important considerations. Less important considerations include strengthening economic relationships with other countries (41%), strengthening and safeguarding political relationships with other countries (39%), creating choices for consumers (39%) and using trade policies to pressure countries that challenge U.S. economic and political priorities (27%). 

 “The Rural Poll findings help illustrate the complexities of trade and the economic impacts on Nebraskans,” Lubben said. “Trade provides consumers access to a global supply of goods and services that can increase choice and decrease costs. But trade can have differing implications for producers, where exports are good for the bottom line, but imports compete with domestic production.”  To learn more about rural Nebraskans’ perceptions of the economy and trade policy

Listen to previous and future webinar recordings at https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/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