Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

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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

 

News of Interest

February 4-H Newsletter is Here

Check out the new February 4-H Newsletter here

Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference

The 2025 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) conference will be held April 23-24 in North Platte, Neb. CEC features workshops, seminars and keynote lectures held inside local businesses, giving attendees a first-hand view of the entrepreneurial spirit at work in rural Nebraska and highlighting the conference’s theme—”Moving Forward, Working Together.” Experts will share their experiences on all things community development, from building tourism assets to strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems. More information at: https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/connecting-entrepreneurial-communities-conference/    or contact  Ben Dutton, (308) 532-2683, ben.dutton@unl.edu

 


 

Remote Pilot Exam Prep Course Resumes 2025

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.

January 9 (Thursday)UNL Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361


January 10 (Friday)UNL West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE 69101

April 25 (Friday)UNL Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361


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)

Nebraska Extension’s Sandhills Beef Educator has dream position in Nebraska Sandhills

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.

 

 

 


 

Rural Poll Webinars

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/.

Center for Ag Profitability (CAP) 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

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